Jesus;The Light Of The World

John 12:12" Then spake Jesus again unto them,saying,I am the light of the world:He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,but shall have the light of life."

Until Jesus came to dwell among men, the entire world was in darkness.The concept of walking in darkness, symbolized the sin and ignorance of the lost. Even the most Godly of men relied upon the priest to offer annual sacrifices, first for himself and then for the sins of the people.The comming of Christ, the spotless lamb of God,has taken away our sins and our darkness.His purpose in comming as the "light" was to rescue all who believes in him from satan's"dominion of darkness" and to bring them "into the kingdom of the Son",Gods kingdom of light and love.

Jesus the "true light" that gives light to every man;but this light is available only to those who believe in and follow(obey)Christ. True believers will never walk in darkness,That is they will not continually abide in sin and spiritual ignorance.They shall walk in the light,the devine truth and holiness of God. The path of the just is as the shining light,that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.When you are born again,God opens your eyes to the spiritual realm, allowing you to see and understand things that you didn't know existed.They are hidden from the world,but revealed unto us.The holy spirit indwelling us reveals to us the path to life,(taking us from darkness into his marvelous light), the will of God ,and the revelation of the word of God.

Now we are the lights of the world, who were sent to open the eyes of the lost,to turn them from darkness to light,and free them from the grips of satan,and lead the to the mercy God, that their sins may be forgiven.But just as the Father and son are one, we to must be one with Christ, for he alone is the source of our light, without him we to are in darkness...........

Lord is It I?

Matthew 26:22"And they were exceeding sorrowful, and begin every one of them to say unto him, Lord is it I?"

Here they are at the Lord supper,and the Lord says "one of you shall betray me", the Lords inner circle, his twelve, hand picked by him,and one would betray him.They were troubled to know their master would be betrayed, and it troubled them even more to know one of them would do it.They were troubled most of all, that they didn't know which one it was;each afraid for himself,and they asked "Lord is it I".They didn't point fingers at each other, or place blame on one another; they didn't say Lord is it Peter,John or James, they each asked "Lord is it I".

Saints we must all examine ourselves in our walk with the Lord, we must begin to look within for those things which hinder our relationship with Christ.Look within for the gods of this world that blinds us to the will and way of the Lord.They each looked within and ask the question "Lord is it I",Is it I betraying you for the love of money, selling you out for a hand full of silver.Is it I committing spiritual adultry and fornication,as I confess with my mouth, my marriage to the lamb, but secretly climb in and out of the bed with the gods of this world.Lord is it I,being led by the powers of satan unaware, captivated by his lies,and false promises, blinded to the things of heaven, trapped in the flesh,a slave to the old man and his ways,while confessing a new life in Christ.Lord is it I,causing division within your flock, proclaiming and teaching a self serving doctrine,catering your word to fit my beliefs, and lifestyle, Lord is it I; Am I denying you three times before the cock crows,denying you in my walk, in my talk, and in my appearence, as I bear no resemblance to you at all. Lord is it I who dips with you in the love of the Father with one hand, while stabbing you in the back with the other.Lord is it I,Who serves you with my lips, while my heart is far from you, dressed up on the outside looking like a new man, but on the inside just dead lifeless bones, walking on the same crooked path.They all asked" Lord is it I", eating bread with you while,lifting my heals up against you, they wanted and needed to know for themselves,"Lord is it I."

Saints we must be absolutly sure as to where we stand with Christ,salvation is real, and the choices we make are eternal; have you with all sincerity of heart, ask the question" Lord is it I". Because we were the "I" who was lost in sin,the"I" on the way to hell, and the "I" that Jesus suffered ,bled and died to save. So let us ask daily, "Lord is it I" and then pray for the strength not to betray the Lord of Glory.............

Dying To Live!

Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affections,evil concupiscence,and covetousness,which is idolatry".(read 3:5-11)

Here this is a violent passage of scripture,a passage that attacks many people right where they are living.In this third chapter of Colossians,we see the violent demands of the believer's new life in Christ .It tells us to put to death the sins that enslaves the body and it's members.The word "mortify" means to put to death or act as though the body is dead.The believer is to take the various parts of his body and put them to death in so far as sin is concerned.How does one do this you ask?He considers his body to be hid in the death of Christ. He lives as though his body is dead with Christ.And remember a dead man cannot sin; a dead man can do nothing.Therefore, the believer is dead to sin,as he lives through Christ.

The point is this: it is an act of the mind or spirit.A person wants to live for God;therefore, he looks at his body and at sin.The only way he can possibly conquer sin is to treat his body as dead to sin or to consider sin as dead to his body.The person has to live as though his body has no part in sin,and sin has no part in his body.But note, this life is possible only in Christ.Christ alone,through the Holy Spirit,can work within the human heart and give it the energy and power to conquer sin permanently and eternally. Some men can discipline themselves to overcome some sin,but not all sin,and not all the time.This can only be done through Christ.There is an enormous difference between human discipline and godly control,and that difference is Jesus Christ.Not only are we told to put to death the sins that enslave the body,but we are also instructed to strip off the sins that enslave the emotions and the tongus(vs.8-11). Contrary to what we want to believe save people don't just act or speak any old kind of way.A Christian is Christ like in action as well as conversation.

What sins are to be mortified or put to death?The Bible is very specific, for there are some very specific sins which tend to enslave the human body.In fact,note the term "children of disobedience". These particular sins are not only terrible acts of disobedience to God,they are sins that can enslave the human body so much that they make a believer, a child of disobedience.How many are professing Christ here on the social network, yet are living in fornication,worshiping Idols,or using foul language.Some even boast about ungodly acts which they do like they are proud of them,children of disobedience.Rather we like it or not there is a demand put on all who profess this new life in Christ. 

God Has Been Good to You

Psalms 116:7 "Return unto thy rest,O my soul;for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee".

In these troubled times we can get pulled away from the rest and peace of the Lord by the trials and percieved troubles of this world.We without even being aware of it ,at times begin to focus on that which we don't have and we don't thank and praise God for that which we do have.Through it all we must remember that God has been good to us.

We must remember that when we were lost in darkness on our way to hell, He sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross to save our souls.Everything we need God gave us when he gave us Jesus.In Jesus we have salvation, in Jesus He has supplied our every need, in Jesus He our battles are won,in Jesus   our enemies behave, in Jesus we have rest and peace for our souls.So let us return to the Lord,he said in His word "take no thought", we already have the victory, our needs have already been met,but we must walk in the faith that we have all that we need.Jesus does have all power,and we must live in the faith that we are victorious, and believe that no weapon formed against us shall prosper,that all things does work together for good to them who love the Lord,and return for the Lord has been good to us.

As I look over my own life,even in these hard times, God has supplied my every need.17 years ago I was homeless, on drugs had lost my children.The world said I was unfit to live ,but God felt I was to precious to die.Today as I look back I see that God has been good to me,and woe with me if I don't preach the gospel of Jesus Christ,the power of God unto Salvation. "As good as God has been to me,I can't afford not to praise his name".

God's Great Love

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son,that whosoever believeth in him,should not perish,but have everlasting life".

Here we have the most popular,the most quoted and no doubt the most misunderstood scriptures in the bible.It is misunderstood because of man inability to grasp the love of God.we tend to love base on how we feel about the person or the situation.We love with expectations,we love with our eyes,see we love what we see, taste,and can feel.But here Jesus reveals God's great love.

"God so loved the world",He loved the whole world.The ideal that God loves the world is a new idea. The Jews believed God loved the religious(the true jew) and hated the nonreligious(the gentiles).These same thoughts are held by many in every generation,especially by the religious community.The Fact that God so loves is shocking.He loves the saint and the sinner,God loves everyman,not just those who love Him but also those who reject Him.He loves the unlovable, unloving,the unbelieveing,the obstinate, the selfish, the greedy, the spiteful,and the vengeful.The basic of God Love is his nature,for God is love. He didn't just love ,He so loved.He loved so much that he gave his only begotten Son. He gave not only all he had but the best that he had, like Abel offering the best of his fruits,like the woman with the two mites, giving all that she had.He gave His only Son to suffer judgement for my sins and yours.He gave His only son to be punished for our sins."God commended His love toward us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us".He gave His only son to die for sinners.He did this so that we who rebelled against Him, we who cried with one voice "crucify Him and give us Barabas", so that we the sinner might have eternal life with Him in heaven.He gave so that we might have,His Son died so that we might live.

When the world said we were not fit to live, God felt we were to precious to die,and he gave His only begotten Son ,not based on out love for Him,but because of His love for us.Let us now take this love we have been blessed to experience and share it with another,that all may come to know the goodness of the Lord.Let us love inspite of.Don't just talk about loving one another, but like our Father, show our love one to another. Let us give the best of ourselves and all of our selves that another might be saved.

Actions Speaks Louder Than Words!

1John 3:10 "In this the children of God and the devil are manifest:Who ever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother".

The scripture reveals that God's children occasionally sin after baptism.But, if they wish to continue in His favor,they must not only confess to Him but also ask Him to"cleanse them from all unrighteousness". We cannot please God if we deliberately practice sinning.However,some habits deeply ingrained from early childhood may not be that easily overcome.The effects of such sin tend to foster serious weaknesses in our walk.It may take a long period of diligent striving to finally overcome.Paul put it this way:"Put to death, therefore,whatever belongs to your earthy nature".We can accomplish this through the power of God's Spirit.

James puts God's requirements in perspective:"Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?Can a fig tree, my brethren,produce olives, or a vine produce figs?Neither can salt water produce fresh.Who among you is wise and understanding?Let Him show by his actions his deeds in the gentlness of wisdom.But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.This wisdom is not that which comes down from above,but is earthly,natural,demonic.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing".(James 3:11-16 NASB). You can't say you love yet your actions are those of hate.But when we esteem others higher than our selves it removes all envy, and selfish ambition and makes room for a sacrificial love,laying aside our will for that of another, this shows our love one for another.

God is love.Love is the foundation of God's character.God's love in us should transform our character. "Love is patient,love is kind,and is not jealous;love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecoming; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;bears all things, believes all things,hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails.Every other aspect of the fruit of the spirit is merely a specific expression of godly love.We are not just to love our friends and family ,but also love those who do not love us,for which we need God's Spirit to help us.We must overcome evil with good. Let us be known as a child of God by portraying the fruits of God's Spirit

Be Ye Holy

Thessalonians 4:7 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness,but unto holiness".

"You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?"This quote has become a common catch phrase among believer.Anyone can grow up in church or hang around church people and pick up church language."I'm too blessed to be stressed"."I'm saved,santified,and filled with the holy ghost". Does the public and private life of a believer reflect his or her church jargon, or are these just catchy phrases used to cover up ones short commings?

Saints God is calling us,God speaks to us in various ways, and he is calling us to stand up in the holiness of his darling Son, whom he sent to die that we might live. Perhaps we've heard the still,small voice of his spirit directing our spirit.Or maybe our conscience has screamed at us when we've headed toward something we know isn't pleasing to God.Maybe some instruction in God's word has hit us squarely between the eyes when we've needed it most.And then there are the timely conversations with the other Christians that brings us a needed word of encouragement,direction,or warning. Yes God is speaking to us,calling us to holiness.But are we listening? Sometimes we're so busy with us, we don't really stop long enough to acknowledge or absorb what He's saying to us. At other times we may not want to hear what He's saying because it dosn't suit us. Or we may just not take the time when we have it, because we're "not in the mood" to spend time with God.(let us be honest with ourselves).Hopefully, though this isn't the norm for us.As Christians, we should long to hear from God and approach Him with a heart that is eager to listen and please him.But it can be a battle to fight against our own will, as well as the will of the world's demands pressing in on our time and attention.That why it is so important to have some quiet time set aside everyday (maybe 2 or 3 times a day) just to spend time with God. Time set aside to listen to his instructions. The time of day we do this is not as important as having the readiness of heart and mind to not only receive what God is telling us, but also to obey what he tells us. God is calling us to holiness, the word says "be ye Holy as I am Holy", but we'll need to be listening in order to hear His call.

Jesus said that those who follow Him should live in such a way, so that others would see their good works and glorify God in Heaven.So our holiness is more than just a matter of personal spiritual growth; it's a matter of honoring God and proclaiming Him to the world.To most of the world we are the only way they will see God. Are you an accurate reflection of our Saviors? Does your actions, attititude, and way of life ,show Christ like characteristics? Will you answer God's call to Holiness?

Do Not Pass Me By!

Luke19:5"And when Jesus came to the place,he looked up and saw him,and said unto him,Zacchaeus, make haste,and come down;for today I must abide at thy house"

"Pass me not oh gentle savior,hear my humble cry,while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by". These words are more than just lyrics to a hymm,these are the words of the humble cry, from the soul of all repented sinners.A sincere heart felt cry,from every heart which desires to see the Lord.A desire so strong,that one will make haste,push through,get in front of and even rise above all that would hinder their chance at a personal relationship with the savior.

Zacchaeus was a sinner who sought to see Jesus for himself,he heard that Jesus was passing through, and he sought to see him, and to one Jesus came.(It is good when sinners seek Jesus while he can be found)It says"And when Jesus came to the place", there is a place in the life of every sinner, when they realize they are lost and in need of salvation, and Jesus will meet every sinner at that place. Seek Him and He will be found. Zacchaeus was at that place, he was a sinner in need of salvation and he didn't want Jesus to pass him by.He made haste to see him,not letting the crowd or anything else stand between him and his salvation. He received him with joy, he called him Lord, accepting him for who he was and not what he could give him,and he was willing to surrender all he had, to the rule of the Lord.

What the Lord saw was a sinner who not only needed,but who would accept the mercy of the lord.One willing to stand alone in his decision. Jesus looked up and saw one whose character, would make him a great witness to the grace of the Lord. Jesus saw one who would receive him with all his heart.So Jesus said "today I must abide at thy house".Today is the acceptable day of salvation;Jesus must abide at the house of all repented sinners,and must have rule of the house,to do what he will,to do as he sees fit,to arrange it as he wants it.We must let him mold us into the instrument he sees fit, to be used in his garden of salvation,that we might bring in the sheeves........

If you don't want Christ to pass you by, you must make yourself avaiable to him....

He Went Forth

 ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Here we have Jesus at the end of His earthly ministry.Here He is in the garden preparing to drink from the cup.The garden where it all begin, sin begin in the garden,and his suffering began in the garden,and in the garden the was where the redeemer was promised.Here is Jesus the promised seed was making ready to bruise His heel on the head of the serpant.Jesus knew His Father's will was for him to die for the sins of the world,and he knew he would need His Fathers help,so here he is in the garden seeking His Fathers face.Here we have a great picture of total surrender, for knowing all things that should come upon him,Jesus went forth.

Jesus knew the awful separation from God he would endure because of our sins, yet he went forth.He knew he would be cut off from God's presence,that His Father would have to forsake Him,and turn His back on Him because he was covered with our sins,yet he went forth.He knew the coming judgement on sin that would be excersied upon Him by his Father;knowing all things that should come upon Him he went forth.When they tried to make him king he withdrew and disapeared in the crowd,yet he went forth to be our sacrifice.He went forth in complete surrender,he went forth voluntarily,he was not driven he was lead like a sheep to the slaughter,he went forth.He knew of the suffering,pain and the impending judgement that lied ahead,yet he went forth.He knew he would be rejected, despised, sold out ,lied on abandoned, slapped, spit on, falsely accused, whipped all night long and then nailed to a cross,yet he still went forth.The world he came to save coming to kill him and he didn't hide in the garden like Adam,he went forth.

Jesus went forth that we might be spared,He went forth to die so we might go forth and live a life that is pleasing to God.He went forth to save us ,that we might go forth to lead others to the salvation of the Lord Jesus stepped forth in our place that we might step forth to save someone else.Knowing all that should come upon him, Jesus looked beyond all our faults and saw our needs and he went forth.The question,Will you go forth in is name?

Tools in The Master's Hand!

1Corinthians 3:9 "For we are labourers together with God:ye are God's husbandry,ye are God's building."

"They don't build'em like they used to!" It's a common refrain among those who remember when quality was something builders took pride in.There was a day when a person could earn a living and a good reputation by taking time to get the job done right.Today, time is money,so speed and quanity,not quality craftsmanship seems to be the hallmark of a lot of building today.But as we know the worker is only as good as the tools he has to work with.It is hard to build something if you don't have the right tools. Taking short cuts often means having to come back and do it over.

In a similar way we may be enticed to take shortcuts in God's character-development phases of building our lives.We may be tempted to skirt issues of honesty,integrity,and purity in our hearts.We may decide to shut out the voice of the spirit as we reach for the goal of what we want,in our timing instead of his. That's a recipe for spiritual disaster.Consider the time God took to develop godly people,such as Moses(40yrs hiding in the wilderness), David (tending sheep and running from Saul), and Elisha (yrs of faithful service to Elijah).As they submitted themselves to God to be His servants, God trained and empowered them to be ones who glorified Him in great ways.We to must be patience and wait on God's time for us.He is shaping and molding us into useful tools to be use in His garden of salvation.We must be strong,durible,sturdy,sharpe and easy to use.We must be able to withstand the hard surfaces, rough and rugged job that lies before us.Can we really expect to build on the foundation of Christ without submitting to God's ways and process in our lives?

In fact,this the great advantage that we have as belivers today:the gift of God's Spirit is available to all men and women now.We have all the resources of Heaven at our disposal to help us build better and stronger than ever on the foundation of Christ.Now that you've taken time to examine what kind of building materials you are using in your day-to-day life,it's a good time to call on God for the help you need with any areas of weakness.

The Gospel!

Acts: 8:35 "Then Phillip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus";

During the 40 days following his resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples on numerous occasions. During these gatherings Jesus instructed them to preach the gospel message to a dying world.It is with this single message,that we can reach out and save a dying world.Everything we will ever need can be found in Jesus God's gift to mankind. Everything God wanted to say to man, everything he wanted to do for man, everything he wanted to give to man was accomplished when he gave us Jesus the Christ, the power of God.

  In Jesus is the fulness of life,he is the abundance of life God promised,and this the early saints understood.Even though they were smaller in number, they were big in faith,love, and they understood where their strength and power came from.They did more with less, while we are doing less with more.They didn't have the megga buildings but their church was built on the foundation of the gospel.They didn't have T.V., radio or the social networks,but they shared the truth of God's word everywhere they went. No matter what challenges ,trial , and/or tribulation came their way, they never lost focus as to what their mission was ,nor did they sway from their message,as they continued to reach out to a lost world.They didn't change the message to get the people, the people changed to get the message,they trusted God's word to do just what he said it would do.

When sin crept in, they reached out with the gospel, when envy raised its ugly head they reached out, preaching Christ and him crucified. When trouble tried to enter the body of believers thru murmuring, they never lost sight of their mission; even when faced with death(like stephen) they reached out with the love of Jesus, and prayed that the charge be not held against their enemies.They realized their strenght was in doing God's will, they were lead by  Gods spirit, and trusted in Gods word, and reached out with Jesus the Christ God's gift  to a dying world.

Don't Stop The Rain!

Isaiah 5:6b "I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it".

Rain is essential for growth of seed and fruit, and its withdrawal for a length of time a terrible temporal judgement,especially in hot climates.The spiritual rain of the Holy Spirit's influence essential to a spiritual life,in its beginning,growth, ripening, and perfecting.What does it mean when the spirit doesn't rain down; ministers preach with no power;assemblies gathered, but the Lord is not in the mist; the word read ,but there is no application to the heart.Formality of prayer kept up ,bit there is no pleading with God.The Holy Ghost restrained and grieved.This is the case of any church or person if sin is tolerated after warning.The clouds which are ordained to rain are commanded by God not to.

This hinders spiritual growth as their is no conviction or conversion as these are brought about by the spirit.There is no restoration of the backslider,withered plants are not revived when there is no rain.No refreshing of the weary,as strength and comfort comes by the dew of heaven.No spiritual activities,as the congregation moves about like people sleep walking.Everything suffers when there is a spiritual drought.This happens when the soul experiences no benifit under the word.When the person feels glutted with a false gospel and grows weary of the truth, causing one to neglect  the hearing of the truth.It can be prevented let us confess our sins to God as he might have with held his grace from us;let us come humbly, and look alone to Jesus, for he shall come down like rain,and let us use that blessing more diligently when it comes that we may bring forth fruit unto God. 

God's grace can save souls without any preaching: but all the preaching in the world cannot save souls without God's grace.The hearer sometimes complains that there is no food for his soul; when the truth is that there is no soul for the food.Without the raining of the spirit, their can be no produced fruit in the church.Let us pray for rain.

Picked Out to be Picked On!

Mark 8:31"And he began to teach them,that the son of man must suffer many things,and be rejected of the elders,and of the cheif priest,and scribes,and be killed,and after three days rise again."

After performing many miracles,Jesus now began to clarify the exact nature of his atoning ministry.If someone was to follow him,that person would have to follow the whole Christ,the crucified Savior and the risen Lord,by taking up their cross daily,and suffer as he suffered.Jesus told them what lied ahead, he was going to be crucified.He would be humiliated by the Romans not conquor them,and then he would display the power of God,by being raised from the dead.Jesus told the people if they followed him they stood to lose everything, including their life.He wanted them to place their trust in God,and Him alone.(We have to be willing to let go of things,if it means to hold on to God)

As Christians ,we live daily lives around people who do not believe what we believe.We know that not everyone is going to feel the same way we do about God.Other people may not understand our passion for him, and may even mock us for it.Sometimes we might feel alone in our suffering, and that we shouldn't have to suffer at all.There is a popular message being preached by many today, proclaiming  God wants success and monetary gain for all who believes,and your suffering is from a lack of faith. But suffering is and has always been the road christians have had to travel.Those Saints listed in Hebrews 11 all had great faith, and suffered mightily for the Lord.Instead of being discouraged by our challenges,let us be like the hero's of faith,and be encouraged by our relationship with God.

We know life is going to be full of disappointments and struggles,but we are christians,  our goal is to be like Jesus.We know that we can overcome any hardship or burden we're dealt,For we can do all things through Christ,our strength.Our trials are to prove and strengthen our faith in God.It is our faith and dedication to the word, will, and way of God, that will allow us to endure our times of suffering, that we might rejoice in is glory.We have been picked out to be picked on,but we shall overcome! 

My Every Need!

2 Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in Him yea,and in Him Amen,unto the glory of God by us."

Everything God wants to give to man He said with Jesus.When man was lost,God gave us Jesus,as he is the way.When he wanted to man love one another,he gave us Jesus.When man needed an advocate,and high priest, a sacrifice,a Savior,a redeemer,a provider, an example,and a light in a world of darkness God gave us Jesus.God said he was supply our every need,and he did when he gave us Jesus.

Here we have Paul explaining to the church at Corinth, that all they need,every promise of God was fulfilled in Christ.He says all the promises; that includes those in the old testiment as well as those of the new testiment. Everyone from Genesis to Revelations, every promise in the word of God was fulfilled with Jesus.The conditional and the unconditional, the physical and the spiritual,all promises of God are in Him. They are established beyond all doubt, they are confirmed beyond all alterations.In Christ lies the stablity of the promises, for He is the foundation and truth of God's word. Christ is the witness of the promises;the surety of the promise, the sum and substance of the promise.The fulfillment of the promises by His actual incarnation,His virgin birth,his living plea,His atoning death,and in his rising with all power.He also guarantees this delieverence of the promise as all power is in His hands to fulfill them.

The closer we are to Christ the more of God's promises are fulfilled in our lives.Let us glory in the promises of God, through living a life led by his spirit, in obedience to His word,and in the way of His darling son Jesus the Christ,the promise of God to all mankind.

Living In Darkness

2 Corinthians 4:4"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,who is the image of God should shine unto them".

Saints at one time we all were none believers, trapped in darkness blinded by the god of this world.The bible represents Satan as the master manipulator of human nature.Our weakness combined with the devil's influence has led the whole world into sin.Because of Satan's deceptions and the sinful tendencies of human nature,"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". We must understand, however, that the devil cannot force us to sin,he simply influences us through our fleshly weaknesses.But several major areas of our fleshly nature are easily manipulated by Satan.

First, our selfish, fleshly desires often get us into trouble.The lust of the flesh,the desires of the flesh which calls us out side the will of God.Second, our natural deviousness, including self- deception, is a major weakness of the fleshly mind.We naturally look for ways to  justify our lust,our sinful desires,and the behaviors that arise from them.We deceive ourselves into believing that, since our desires are natural,they are not so bad after all.But God's word reminds us that"there is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way of death".Third, we have a natural tendency to resent having our fleshly desires limited by rules, even God's rules.Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit,set their minds on the things of the spirit.

The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God and blinded to the light of his truth,and love by the deception of the god of this world.One locked in darkness find it hard to see.Those that are in the flesh cannot please God.These and other fleshly weaknesses are what we call human nature.Satan takes advantage of our weak and greedy nature by persuading us to rely even more on our emotions,needs and wants than we normally would.But we play our part.Without the positive influence of God's Spirit, we are simply not naturally inclined to live according to God's instructions.If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.Once was blind but now we see,thanks to Jesus the light of the world...............

I Give You My Word!

Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son,but delievered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things".

Members of the early Church often referred to themselves as those who followed "the way".Paul refers to their way of life as "the way of the Lord" and "The way of God".In other words,the early Christians, directly taught by Christ apostles,were recongnized by their deeds and action.The way they lived, separated them from those of the world around them.It was called the way because they lived the way Christ lived.They followed his example,they obeyed His instructions.The way was then,and still is, a way of living and thinking that is different from that followed by those of this world.

When Christ came to earth He explained that this different way of thinking would through the power of the Holy Spirit, produce the fruit of righteous actions and deeds.He taught that God's way is the way of giving rather than the normal selfish human way of alway getting.The key to living a way of life different from the way of the world is to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us so we think like Jesus Christ. Through His spirit,God not only leads us in a different way of thinking,He helps us change the motivations that govern our actions.This focus on unselfishness rather than the self-serving approach produced by our natural way of thinking,which in turn brings about a dramatic change in the way we live and everything we do.God ask that we reorder our priorities,allowing his spirit to change our thinking, serving God by doing his will and seeking his kingdom.When we put God first ,he promises to provide ways for us to meet our needs.He will with hold no good thing from us.

Living a godly life is much more than merely calling on God's name as though that alone will excuse us for doing whatever we please.Living a godly life is doing what pleases God.It is practicing what he commands us, and living a way of life defined by his word.Jesus taught a way of life based on observing God's commandments from a heart of love that willingly makes personal sacrifices for the sake of others, focusing on giving rather than receiving.A true Christian cannot base his way of life, his new way of living on his own ideas about right and wrong.God's law and Christ example of perfect obedience to those laws, set the standards for the genuine Christian way of Life.Our new life is based on giving,a free gift given by God to all who will receive it."For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son",Giving is the way of God and the foundation of His love to mankind.Let us use this same foundation as we give to a lost world that which God gave to us..Share Jesus with a friend and change a life.

How Great Thou Art!

Revelations 1:8"I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,saith the Lord,which is,and which was,and which is to come,The Almighty".

Jesus is amazing in His power and in His Love.He exercised both perfectly,never flinching and never fighting.He stood His ground,doing everything His Father indicated,but He never reacted in self-defense when His enemies taunted Him.Jesus' authority and humilty were perfectly attuned to the Father's heart.It is beautiful and breath-taking when we stop to consider it.What is sobering,in light of this, is that we are called to be like Jesus.We have authority in Him, and yet we are mandated to walk in humility.It's a call we must take seriously and one we must pursue with care.

His mighty works "what manner of man is this,that even the winds and the sea obey him!" The elements, demons, disease,and even death were subject to the Lordship of Christ.Death had no dominion over Him, who could kill God? Jesus had to surrender to death and give up everything before he could die. He"became obedient[or submissive] unto death".The world percieved the cross as a moment of weakness when it was actually a temporary surrender of power,without which it would have been impossible for Him to die.

Jesus had all power, but He chose to excercise it in submission to His Father, in humility and Love. Abuse could not provoke Him to abuse His power; abandonment could not compel Him to abandon His humility.Saint it was His love for us and His obedience to the will of the Father that allow Jesus to lay down His power over death, and in humility, let it take Him temporary captive.He walked in both  power and humility with utter integrity, and looked to His Father to show Him how. We must do no less.Saints let us walk in his power to over come sin and in humility to lead a lost world to the salvation of the Lord.

Does Your Life Deny Him?

John 13:38"Jesus answered him, wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?Verily,Verily, I say unto thee,the cock shall not crow,till thou hast denied me thrice"

Saints,the moment we announce alligence to the Lord, the enemy begins his attack on us.As we travel alone on this journey,we will be under constant attack from the world and those of the world.There will be challenges and choices which will ask us the question"will you lay down your life for Christ sake."(Now I'm not talking about a dead sacrifice, but a living sacrifice.)For every time we go about to do good, evil will always be present.

I ask a question, will you deny the Lord in your life this weekend? Will the things you plan this weekend bring honor and glory to the Lord or will they deny His existance in your Life.Jesus said if we deny Him before men, that he would deny us before the Father;but are you aware you can be denying Christ by living ungodly lives before men.So when you see yourself about to climb into bed with one you are not married to, or when you find yourself requesting another drink,hitting a blunt,or in a position unbecomming of a Christian, remember you are denying Christ at that moment in your life.

On the night when Jesus was preparing to lay down his life to save mankind,Peter claimed to be willing to lay down his life for Jesus.Now don't get me wrong, it is better to die with Jesus than to live without him,but Peter didn't fully understand what it meant to lay down his life to follow Jesus.Many today don't take the time to count up the cost when it comes to following Christ.See it's one thing to leave the fishing boats to follow Christ, and something totally different to lay down ones life to follow.(It's one thing to make a sacrifice a couple of hours on Sunday to follow Christ, but can you sacrifice a lifetime to follow him)We must realize there is a wilderness between the red sea and the promise land.There is a great suffering that comes before the promised rest.(You can't enjoy the risen Lord without suffering with the crucified Savior).The truth is some of us will be scared away by the sufferings that lies ahead;many of us will abandon him when the persecution comes.He will be sold out in times of uncertaintee, and he will be denied at a time when a witness is needed.How can we say we will do with such ease, something that the Lord himself struggled with in the garden.So saints will you drink from the cup,will you deny yourself daily and take up your cross, after all Christ carried the heavy end(the end which held death),Will you take up a cross for those who talk about you, spitefully use you,falsely accuse you. Will you love your enemy,will you humble yourself as a little child, and submitt to the will of God.When it's all on the line, will you deny the lord.

Saints, we all know that Judas sold Jesus out, Peter denied him and the other disciples abandoned him.But are you aware that we to have sold him out,abandoned him and denied him, with the way we sometimes live our life.Let us remember to walk worthy of the name which we bear, for many are following us,so let us lead them from the darkness into his marvelous light.

Where I First Saw The Light!

Galatians 6:14"But God forbid that I should glory,save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,by whom the world is crucified unto me,and I unto the world".

It is a subject of rejoicing and glorying that we have such a Savior.The world looked upon Him with contempt,and the cross was a stumbling-block to the Jew and folly to the Greek.But to the Christian,that cross is the subject of glorying.The place where I first saw the light. It is so because;  of the love of Him who suffered there; of the purity and holiness of his character,for the innocent died there for the guilty;of the honor there put on the law of God by his dying; of the reconcilliation there made for sin; of the pardon there procured for the guilty; of the fact that through it we become dead to the world and are made alive unto God; of the fact that it purchased us admission into Heaven, a title to the world of glory.All is glory around the cross.It was a glorious Savior who died;it was glorious love that led him to die;it was a glorious object to redeem a world; and it is unspeakable glory to which he will raise lost and ruined sinners to have life by his death.Who would not glory in such a Savior.

If you have not yet found out that Christ crucified is the foundation of the whole volume,you haven't been studying God's word.Your religion is a one without a foundation of truth,like a lamp without light,you will be left in darkness,and your religion will not deliever your soul from Hell.Don't get hung up on the traditions of man and his religious ritual, and miss the glory on the cross.The glory of the cross is that it was not only to Jesus the path to life,but that each moment it can become to us the power that destroys sin and death, and keep us in the power of the eternal life.Faith in the power of Jesus dying on the cross and His victory over sin and death, will daily kill off the deeds of the body, and the lust of the flesh.

Look at the glory on the cross;Christ crucified,as he accepted for us the wage paid by sin.The world was crucified, as he took on the sins of the world, like a felon executed upon the cross,its character condemned,its judgments condemed,its teachings despised, its treasures,pleasures, joys and toys all rejected by the Savior as is the glory of the cross. The believer crucified, as we by faith accept the death of the Savior and walk in a newness of life."Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,that the body of sin might be destroyed,that henceforth we should not serve sin".(Rom.6:6) Let us glory in the light seen at the cross.

Burden Bearer!

John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus comming unto him,and saith,Behold the lamb of God,which taketh away the sin of the world."

This is what God did to secure forgiveness for us once and for all,so we can stay in the right relationship with him.It starts with Jesus' execution. He was lifted up in the same way that the snake was lifted up on a pole in Moses' day so that the people could look upon it and be forgiven for their sins.He was disfigured and marred beyond recognition.(Jesus allowed his flesh to be crushed, ripped and torn.)And in spite of His God-given mission to bring redemption to the world, He was despised and rejected by men, he was one from whom men hide their faces.

Jesus mission was to bear the burden of our sins.He took upon himself the punishment we deserved for our sins,and he suffered on behalf of us,suffering that included being whipped all night long by a band of soilder, he was spitt on, slapped with an open hand, mocked and pierced in his side.He endured the excruciating pain of his execution knowing that his death would result in spiritual restoration, and in some cases physical healing, for those who put their trust in him.All of us are sinners,and all are in need of spiritual redemption.Jesus secured that redemption with the shedding of his blood,for without the shedding of blood ,there is no remission of sin.

     Jesus didn't open his mouth and complain about his treatment, although by many standards he was treated unfairly.Like a lamb being led to slaughter,he yeilded to his fate without resistance. He was the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus was God's sacrificial lamb, a lamb slaughtered on the altar as an atoning sacrifice. He was also the scapegoat, the one who separates sin from the sinner so God can look at us sinners and see us as sinless.Because Jesus took on the sin of all mankind and was sacrificed on our behalf, God's demand for justice was satisfied.Now he sits at the right hand of God, where he intercedes on the behalf of all believers, when the enemy makes accusations against us.What was needed to purchase redemption for man was done through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, where he bore our iniquities,  and poured his life out unto death to secure forgiveness."behold the love of God! 

Like Father-Like Son!

Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect,even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".

God's goal is to build spiritually mature,godly character in us in this life,making us more Christ like.We also have a part to play in  building eternal godly character, by remaining faithful to God and His word, regardless of the temptations which pulls us to the contrary.We must resist the urge to do things we know go against God's will for our life.We must ,by faith, live knowing God will strengthn us to endure whatever trials the enemy sends our way in this life.Because when we don't ,we compromise, and when we compromise we tear down  the character God is helping us to build.Every time we give in to temptations, it makes it easier to give in to the next one,and the next one and so on.Being faithful is necessary to our Character development.Compromise is especially dangerous because of the insidious way it spreads, it grows like a cancer.It comes on slowly, then spreads,before we know anything,we can find ourselves in grave spiritual danger,and in a fight for our spiritual lives.We must realize what ever is not from faith is sin (romans 14:23)If our actions are not done in faith or according to faith we are sinning.Let us be careful not to violate our conscience(1 pet.3:15-16).

We need to be sure that what we do is done in faith and confidence, that it is right and acceptable to God, or we should not do it.Our motives need to be right and our conscience clear in everything we do. Therefore it is a must that we properly educate ourselves so we are in accordance with God's word,The Bible.Our first nature is not able to know right from wrong(jeremiah 10:23).Therefore we must first learn God's ways that define right and wrong(hebrews 5:14).

God wants us to live within the boundaries and standards He has set for us,to change our values, attitudes, thoughts and actions so they are in line with His standards.The process of conversion is allowing God to work in us,replacing our standards, values and thoughts with God's standards, values and thought, that we might be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.That we might truly be Christ like in our living.

What's in a Name!

Isaiah 62:2"Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name."

Christian,to be Christ like: to be like the only begotten of the Father. Saints it is a priviledge to be looked upon as a christian,it is one of the highest honors there is.Our denomination is not from the name of the person,but the name of his office.Our belief is in the name we bear,Christ anointed:Jesus is the Chrsit,and we are not ashamed to let the world know this is the truth by which we are willing to live and die.But saints we have allowed those of the world to trivilize the name we bear.The world believes that everybody who attends a church or say they do,or just say they know who God is, is a christian.It dosn't matter what life style they live,or how they act and carry themselves, if they know who God is, and say they go to church they are christians .But remember, satan goes to church,and knows who God is,does that make him a christian.Now being a christian dosn't mean you will never fall down, but it does mean you will get back up.

So what does it truly mean to be Christ like? Well in the book of Acts says,they were first called christian in Antioch.What made the people call them christians.The bible says Barnabus was a good man, so a christians should be good, one of good character,of good temper,and of a good nature,not only righteous but good.He was a man of faith, so a christian should be one of faith.Full of faith,full of the grace of faith,and the fruits of that faith, which works by love.He was obliging,a man with a friendly disposition, and willing to teach it to others.A christian is one who is obliging and willing to teach others. He was encourageing,christians are encouraging,encouraging all those in the faith,teaching and preaching about Christ. Teaching not only for conviction and conversion of those outside the body of Christ,but for instruction and edification of those inside the body.He was a cheritable man, christains are givers and the business of Christ is more important to them than their own fame.Christians are forgiving,they are a people of second chances.They assemble themselves with other believers,and they are about church duty and not church business.

Christians are not ashamed to own their relationship to Christ,but glory in the teaching of Christ,laying on themselves and all who would profess to be followers of Christ ,a name worthy of the respect for whose name we bear.Christians,to be Christ like,to live a life worthy of the name we bear that all in darkness will seek his marvelous light.

Ignorance: The Destroyer!

Hosea 4:6 " My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:Because thou hast rejected knowledge,I will also reject thee,that thou shalt be no priest to me:seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God,I will also forget thy children".

Saints it is a must to learn about the Lord.How can you know his will for your life if you don't know him, and I mean know him for yourself.Yes what mommy and grand mommy,and even daddy tells you is good, but you have to know God personally and for yourself.We take the time to learn our Jobs, careers and we will even read on how to operate and better understand the t.v. remote, yet God who we say is the head of our life, we won't take the time to read and study his how to book.How is it that we make sure our kids go to regular school, study and do home work, yet when it come to the knowledge of God we don't have the same urgency.Don't you know a relationship with Jesus will take your child futher in life than the best education from the greatest college!Now I'm not knocking a good education, "but what profit it a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul".

Paul scolded the Corithian Christians for their unspiritual attitudes and conduct. He explained that their problems were cause partly by some of them having too little knowledge of God's ways.Saints most of the division the church now suffers, is from our lack of knowledge and a understanding of the knowledge we think we have about our Lord,  his will for our lives, and the purpose of His church.We cannot properly honor and serve God or his Son, Jesus Christ, unless we have knowledge of his will.We aquire that knowledge through regular, diligent Bible study.We must study to show ourselves approved unto God, that we might truthfully live the word of truth.See saints all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that we may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.It is through our knowledge of God and his word that we are equipped to do that which he calls us to do.

Now God said since we reject his knowledge he will reject us, and we reject his knowledge by rejecting the opportunity to learn of him.When we reject Sunday school we reject his knowledge, when we reject Bible study , we reject his knowledge.You might feel you don't need it , but it is not about you, someone there might need something which only you can share. Remember Jesus did't need saving, but we down here needed what he had up there, so he came down here that we might have a chance to live with him up there.So let us make it a point to make ourselves available to Bible study and or Sunday school where we can ask questions and become better soilders in the army of the Lord.That we might walk worthy of the person whose name we bear, that all in darkness might seek his marvelous light.



A Love I Can See!

1John 3:18 "My little children,let us not love in word,neither in tongue:but in deed and in truth."

There is a line in a song that says " I want a love I can see,it's the only love that means a thing to me, don't want a love you got to tell me about, that kind of love I can sho do with out".See love is an action word,and actions are to be seen and not heard.In word and deed-Love is not piety.It is not sitting on the sidelines complaining about how pathetic everything is.Love is revealed by what we do,not just by what we say.God so loved that He gave,He forgave,He sacrificed,and He saved. He is commanding us to love not in word only, but in deeds."but whoso hath this world's good,and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of  mercy and compassion from him,how can the love of God dwell in him?"(1Jn.3:17)If our faith and love do not compel us to action,then how can they profit us or anyone else?

Pure Love as described in 1corin.13 which is perhaps the most poetic,profound and powerful description of pure love written and of course,Christ is the embodiment of pure love.The apostle Paul's prayer for the family of God was that as Christ dwells in our hearts by faith,and we are rooted and grounded in his love,That we may be able to comprehend,the breath,and length,and depth, and height, of Christ love for us; to know the love of Christ,which passeth knowledge.It is a love that neither death,nor life, nor angels,nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,nor things to come, nor height,nor depth,nor any other creature,shall be able to separate us from.Love is not having knowledge of God but knowing God.Knowing God comes from communion with God. That is what Christ had with God.The love of God is a reflection of God's heart flowing through Christ, one spirit, one heart, one mind.

When Jesus died on the cross,I believe he was feeling two kinds of love.One was from the father as Jesus steadfastly did His will.The other was Jesus' love for all people.Because of the love comming from the Father and his desire to love each one of us,He was able to endure the pain and shame of death on a cross.As we draw upon Jesus' unselfish love,we too can better love others.

Evidence of Love?

John 14:15 "If you love me keep my commandmants".

We all confess that we love the Lord, but do we really?Do we love him with all our heart or with all our wants?I know with my wife I will go out of my way not to offened or upset her,doing everything I promised so as not to hurt her because I love my wife.Yet there are time,just being honest,that I do things that go against God and his word,not concerned if I am hurting him or not.Now I know I'm not the only one who tends to live my life based more on God's love for me than my love for God,but for the sake of not making someone mad, I will talk about my on shortcomings.

What does it mean to truly love God?Well Jesus said "if you love me keep my commandments".Now even though I know and profess that I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me, when it comes to keeping Jesus commandments I often fall very short.But if I truly love Him,shouldn't his needs wants and desires should come before mine.His purpose for my life should be my main focus.He told us to take His yoke ,for it is easy,and his commandments are to "Love the Lord thy God with all our hearts ,soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as our self".Now if God is as good to me as I claim, how hard can it be to love him,and in loving him I should love those he died for.Sometimes it seems that I put more love,care and preparation in my jobs, homes, cars, clothes, hair,nails, grocery list,and our weekend plans than I do in my love for God. If I kept my wedding vows the same way I keep Jesus commandments my  wife would have left long ago.If I worked my job, the way I work for God I would be fired.If I paid my bills the way I pay my tithes and give my offerings I would be homeless and walking.

Now I don't do most of the things listed,my walk with Christ though not perfect, it is much better than this, but there are some who are walking this weak.The important thing is to realize our short coming and as God to help us,and the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak.Let us pray that we all learn to love the lord better.

What If?

2 Chronicles 7:14 " If my people,which are called by my name,shall humble themselves,and pray,and seek my face,and turn from their wicked ways;then will I hear from heaven,and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land".

What if the whole world was saved? What if everybody truly believed in their heart the Lord Jesus, and confessed with their mouth that God raised him from the dead.What If we truly loved the Lord thy God with all our heart soul and might,and loved our neighbor as our self.What if there truly was no difference between the Jew and the Gentile; the Baptist and the COGIC,what if the Catholic and the protestant. truly overcame their differences and walked as one.What if we truly believed " One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism".What if we truly loved one another as Christ has loved us,the world could be saved.Jesus said "and I ,If I be lifted up from the earth,will draw all men unto me",What if we really lifted Him in all that we do,not just the words we say.If we did these things from our hearts,God says he would hear from heaven ,forgive our sins and heal the land.

Here we have a very popularily quoted scripture.The thing is dosn't seem to be anything more than lip service to those who claim to be called by his name.Now I know many will stop reading at this point, but God says "If my people" would do what I have asked of them then will I forgive their sins and heal their land.Well from what I see the land isn't heald,so since I know God can't lie, that would mean we are not doing our part consistantly. Jesus also said if he was lifted up all men would be drawed unto Him, yet their are still a many wondering in darkness,and since I know Jesus is the truth of God word, then it must mean we are not lifting Him up, in all our ways all the time to everyone we see.Now don't get me wrong there are many who truly are doing as much as they can,and all they can.But what if? What if we could truly be honest with ourselves and say we could do more, we could love more, we could care more, we could forgive, and give more.What if we were honest enough to say we sometimes get caught up in the prosperity, power,and prestige of this old world and we put our own ambitions and desires above the will and instructions of God.What if we realized we are not half the saint we claim to be and closer to being the sinner we try to denounce.

What if we were one body with one purpose, walking in a spirit of oneness and proclaiming  one message,Christ and Him Crucified,In one love,the world then could be saved.What If?

Do You Hear Me Now?

John 11:27 "My sheep hear my voice,and I know them,and they follow me:"

Yes Jesus loves me; He is the good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.But the fact that he is the good shepherd, means there are some bad shepherds out there.The world has shepherds ,who have no love for the sheep. They don't pray for them, they prey on them.They don't feed them, they feed off them, they are the bad shepherd.God has given us a shepherd to protect and lead us,who has inspired and strengthened countless Christians throughout the years, to continue their journey up the narrow road.In a world full of  flashy signs, misleading many to travel down the broad road of material pleasures and innumerable pains, it is easy to forget that we have a Shepherd who calls us to follow him to "High Places." Too many loud sounds and too many beckoning voices compete with His words that speak to both our hearts and minds.

What must we do?First, we must step back from our engagement with the world.(We must come from among the world and its joys and toys.)Then we must fall on our knees and listen only to our Lord. Finally, we must follow His lead.We cannot do this once a year, occasionally,or every once in a while,and hope to find ourselves someday at those High Places with Him.Saints the enemy is not going to stop because you decided to make Jesus your choice.Everyday we must deny ourself, take up our cross, and follow the good shepherd. It has to be more than just a daily routine, our following Him must be a committment, a constant and integral part of our lives. (Christianity is not a religion, it is a way of life, it's what we've become, not what we do.) And when it becomes so, not only will it become a natural thing to do, but also we will recognize His voice more easily each time He speaks to us.

Our shepherd loves us and want to take us to High Places, but He won't drag us there.And we can't get there just because we wish to be there.(No matter what they thought,believed,or wanted, when the flood came, all outside the ark drowned.Are you on the outside of the Ark?)We must listen to Him, and we must obey His directions, He is "The Good Shepherd".

The Ways of A Kept Man!

Psalm 91:11 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee,to keep thee in all thy ways".

The Lord gave his people shelter in the time of pestilence,for he had promised,"There shall no evil befall thee;neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling". This is the promise from the passover of those who dwell in God.After the passover came a journey to Canaan;and the promise of the covenant angel and his keeping them in all there ways.

We too are pilgrims on our way to Canaan. He who set us free by the Passover deliverance also provides for our journey to the land which flows with milk and honey.The entire journey to the promise land is protected by our deliever,as he has promised to keep us in all our ways.There are ways which are not protected for they are not in my promise."All thy ways" are mentioned, but there are some ways that are not to be followed by Children of God,which are not our ways.The ways of presumption,for in these many court danger as they defy God.The ways of sin,dishonesty, lying, vice,conforming to the ways of this world are also ways which are not our ways.The ways of worldliness,greed, selfishness, the ways by which men seek personal ambitions are usually dark and crooked and not of God.The ways in which safety is guaranteed are the ways of humble faith in the Lord Jesus.The way of obedience to His devine precepts.The way of child like trust,the way strict principle, stern integrity, of holy separation, and consecrated service.Seeking God's glory in all we do as we walk with God every where we go. While we travel in these ways all believers are secure.

God promises to protect us and keep all who go the way of the Lord.Jesus Christ is the way,and when we choose to go His way we are a kept people.He leads us,he guide us,he directs us, provides for us,  and He protects us.In Christ I amd a kept man. 

Faith or Worry!

Matthew 6:27 "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his statue?"
1Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him;for he careth for you."

Worry, not football is the great american pastime.Anxiety runs high in this country,and Jesus gave us several reasons why and what to do about this sickness of mind.In Matt.(6:25-34),Jesus warns against being so preoccupied with material needs that the will of God is ignored.His response to worry is don't do it.It is directly opposite of believing in faith that God will always come through.Worrying indicates a lack of trust in God.To work so hard for the material things of this world leaves no room for a display of God's miraculous hand in the lives of the believers.

In addressing peoples worries, Jesus was really addressing their lack of faith."O ye of little faith".Jesus says to the worrier,"take a look around".The birds and the flowers are all taken care of  by God.Have any of you ever seen a bird in a mental health hospital suffering from a panic attack?Jesus died for man not for animals and vegetation, so take no thought.Jesus points out that a person's value is greater than that of a bird or a flower,so we must have faith that God is at work on our behalf.Beside worring dosn't add to ones life,it dosn't make you taller nor will you live longer.Instead of working for, and worrying about material things,Jesus encourages His children to busy themselves with activities to build up God's kingdom on earth."Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness":We must have a hunger for righteousness and close living with God.If that is the focus of our daily action,we will never worry obsessively about the things of this world,for we will trust that God will provide our every need.

We are told through out Gods word to trust in Him in everything.Paul says to worry about nothing ,but to bring everything to God in greatful prayer.When believers do this, God gives us a peace that is beyond all understanding.So let us cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us, and he will provide our every need.

Who is He;And what is he to You!

Mark 8:29 "and he saith unto them,but whom say he that I Am?And Peter answereth and saith unto him,Thou art the Christ."

By the time Jesus asked this question of the disciples, He had calmed the sea,exorcised demons,raised a young girl from the dead,and fed over 5,000.Rumours about who he was ran rampant.One day Jesus pulled his disciples aside and asked,"whom do men say that I am?"Jesus used this conversation as a learning experience.Jesus wanted to be sure the disciples understood the purpose of the miracles they had seen.The disciples responded that the people thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah,or one of the prophets who had come back from the dead.

Then Jesus asked them,"But whom say ye that I am?" Saints who do you say Christ is,not only with your talk, but does the way you live your life say that he is the Christ, the son of the living God?Does your life reveal him in his full person,does he shine in and on your life?See in Peters mind and the minds of the others,Jesus was the long awaited messiah-King.He was going to overthrow the wicked Roman government,and put the Jews back in charge.However,Jesus spoiled their visions of a conquering Messiah.Instead of telling them what seats they would hold in his new government,Jesus begin to talk about his rejection by the elders,priest,and teachers of the law,followed by his crucifixion and death.As Peter listened he responded, "No,Jesus, That can't be true." They had witnessed his great power and authority,he was going to make life better not worse. Peter like many believers today,was looking for ease and comfort and power,not the ways of God.Jesus sharply rebuked Peter and clearly stated that those who followed him would suffer greatly.As Jesus suffered,His followers would also suffer.

In less than a week,three of the disciples would see Jesus in his glory and power on a mountain top,But they needed a picture of his suffering as well.Both are part of the christian life.Following Jesus requires us to take up our  own cross of shame, persecution and suffering.No cross,no crown, if we don't suffer with the crucified Savior,we can't reign with the risen Lord.....

Time To Go To Work!

Luke10:2"Therefore said he unto them,The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few:pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

It's been said that you are either a missionary or a mission field.That is,you are either being ministered to by others, or you are ministering to them. This scripture reminds us that we can go out in confidence, because God has gone before and prepared the way. There are persons of peace out there who are waiting to accept the Gospel if we share it with them.

 Jesus didn't plan to minister alone. His goal is to partner with those willing to minister with him.The spiritual fields are ripe for harvest.Many want to hear the good news,but there is a lack of workers willing to gather in the spiritual crops, to bring in the sheaves.Jesus has empowered us to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, in our walk and our talk ; in our attitude and our graditude; our sharing and our caring, he has given us everything we need to go into the fields and reap the harvest.When we go out and proclaim the good new of the Gospel, we heal sin sick souls, which shows the love of God to all. Now understand, not everyone is going to be receptive to Jesus or his message,but we are just to proclaim it anyway.We are to proclaim the good news to every creature, and warn those who resist the truth, that Jesus is real whether they believe it or not and he is comming back.When we proclaim Gods word truthfully, then his spirit will move on the prepared heart and lead them to his salvation.We must remember it is  God who adds to the Church as he sees fit. We are just to go out and proclaim the good news.

Many are in the field but they are sharing a message full of personal agendas and wives fables.So many teach and proclaim that which is not God's revelation but is man's imagination.We are messengers of God,therefore he has given us the message he wants us to proclaim to a dying world.So let us take Jesus God's only message to a dying world,and share him with everybody we see that a lost soul might be saved.