Your Grace and Mercy

Ephesians 2:4-5 " But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ,(by grace ye are saved;)

The most astounding interruption in human history is the word "but" in this passage. Man is dead in trespasses and sins, but God is rich in mercy. He has intervened in the destiny of man;   He has interrupted the doom of death and judgment. God has had mercy on us, and allowed his grace to save us.

The work of God's mercy is to raise us up  with Christ. Scripture plainly declares that God has raised  up believers together with Christ. How is this possible when Christ was crucified and raised up thousands of years ago? God raised Jesus for three reasons; Jesus lived a sinless perfect life. God loved man and wanted to save man, but he had a problem , man had already sinned. Righteousness and perfection had already been lost, and only perfection can live in the presence of God. However, there was hope, if a man could live a perfect and ideal life, that man could secure perfection, and the Ideal righteousness. And that man could stand for and cover all who trusted in him. This is what Jesus did. He was the ideal and perfect man. He was the sacrificial lamb without spot or blemish who could die for the sins of mankind. Jesus died for man, he accepted for us the wage paid by sin. He bore man's penalty and punishment for the sins we were guilty. He who knew no sin was made sin that we who knew no righteousness could be made righteous. God then raised Jesus from the dead, His resurrection stands for all who believes, all who by faith, believes and is baptized, can be saved by the grace of God and the goodness of his mercy.

The work of God's grace and mercy is for us to sit in heavenly places with our heavenly Father. When we by faith accept Christ death, we are dead to sin, and when we accept that God has raise Him from the dead, we to by faith and God's grace, are raised in a newness of life in Christ Jesus. For his word says " But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you"(Roman 8:11)

Praying In Vain

James 4:3 " Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lust".


God hears and answers prayers, but at the same time He cannot be tempted neither does He tempt any man. Many of our prayers go unanswered because of what we are praying for. I remember when getting off of drugs I prayed real hard for a car, then it dawned on me that I didn't even have a drivers license so what good would a car do me.

Many pray to change things, people and our situations when what really needs to change is us and how we see our situations. Why pray for a big house when our little apartment is a struggle to keep clean. Why pray for a good husband/wife when you know yourself you are no good. Why do we pray for a job when we are such lousy employees. Let us pray that God better prepares us for the things we are praying for. you want a good job, pray that God makes you a better employee. Desire a good spouse, Pray that God makes you a good husband/wife. Want a bigger house, take better care of the little apartment God has blessed you with. I find that when your prayer are requesting a change from the inside out, God seems to answer them a lot faster.

Let us stop praying for things out of lust and the need for self elevation. When praying first make sure you are ready for that which you are praying for. Ask yourself is this a need or a want, will it bring glory to God or is this for self gratification. Then always remember the JOY of praying, Jesus- Others- and then You. Make your prayer life one of worship and that will bring Glory to God and not stuff to yourself. 

Bought And Paid For

1 Corinth 6:19b-20 "Ye are not your own: For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your spirit which are God's".

When I was a child, I use to play store. I would sell candy, but try and keep the candy and the money. But we all know that if  you keep the money, the candy is no longer yours, and if you keep the candy you forfeit the money. You can't have both. The same is true with our salvation. You can have your life to live anyway you want to, but then you deny the redemption. If you accept the ransom paid, then the redeemed life is no longer yours, but now belongs to the redeemer. If you have been redeemed,you belong to Christ, but if you are determined to do your own thing, you have renounced your redeemer and choose to die in sin.

The body is not designed for desires and urges, but to be members of Christ, to be a temple of the Holy Ghost to glorify God.Through the blood of Christ we are free to live righteously and eternally in the presence of God. We have received the divine nature of God, we are one spirit ,united with God through Christ, and it is time to render unto God that which belongs to God. When we accepted Christ death, burial, and resurrection, we accepted the ransom paid to free us from the bondage of sin.Our life is no longer ours it belongs to Him who paid the ransom." This life we now live in the flesh, we now live by faith in the son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us". Our bodies are no longer ours, they are now members of Christ, so can we now take the temple of the Holy Ghost and make them members of a harlot. The Holy Spirit actually dwells in the heart of the true believer, and this temple has no other purpose but to house the presence of God. We have surrendered our will to him, we have been consecrated by him, we are possessed and occupied by His spirit and led to do His will. We are not our own, not our own provider as sheep are fed by the shepherd. We are not our own guide, for Jesus is the rudder which guides this ship.

We have been bought with a price; A price paid by the Father ,who gave His only begotten Son; " For God so loved the world....."A price paid by the Son, who gave himself, and his glory. His glory he had with the Father before the world was, that we too might share in that glory. The price was paid with His broken body and shed blood, price paid in full as He became a curse to free us from the curse. Oh so let us rejoice, for we have a beloved owner. let us  worship him with our life, a life of holy diligence to his word, in a humble obedience. Let us praise Him with our living, by living a life of cleanliness,love, and self control, giving of yourself cheerfully with all long suffering. Let the redeemed of the Lord now render unto God that which belongs to God!

He Weeps For The Lost

Luke 19:41"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it"

Compassion, one of the most beautiful virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. A genuine heart felt concern, and deep rooted unconditional love for others. Here in our story today we have the great Ambassador from heaven, overcome with emotion, as he was making his public entry into Jerusalem. Jesus, on an ass colt, descending down Mount Olive ,as he approached the city, when he was come near, he could look down into the city. He could look into the heart of the city, Christ looks into the heart of man, not impressed with the hand praise and lip service, He is not over taken by the size of the congregations, He is only concerned the impending doom of all who haven't accepted him as their Lord and savior.The gospel has been preached, salvation has been offered, Yet in the mist of our praise ,many still have not made peace with God. We cry out his name, but many have yet to accept him as Lord and Savior.Many are still blinded to the accepted day of salvation. Many still have yet to hear his voice, is your accepted day of salvation.

When Jesus came near he beheld the city with a weeping eye. He wept for all of the lost souls who continue to live unrepented lives. He approached the city, and his eyes effected his heart, and his heart effected his eyes, and he wept. He didn't weep because he was betrayed, and sold out by his own. He didn't shed a tear when they whipped him all night long and hung him on a cross to die, for this reason he came. No He wept because many have not made the most of the day. Jesus weeps now for those who still don't realize now is the accepted day for salvation.There is still time to repent, yet Christ knows few will make use of it.

 Jesus is still weeping over the many lost soul who have yet to hear His voice and turn from their wicked ways and seek His salvation. Jesus hung on cross to save YOU and He weeps for you as He stands with His arms stretched out at the door of YOUR heart knocking. Will you let Him in? 

What's Your Excuse

Luke 9:62 " And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God".


What will you make more important than following Christ. Many profess to follow Christ yet when there is work to be done or a commitment to be made then the excuses come out. We tend to have an excuse for why we can't  follow Christ, but will travel to the ends of the earth chasing the treasures and pleasures of this world.

Jesus said count up the cost. Salvation is free, but serving the Lord has a great cost to it. Our life is one of sacrifice and service. Jesus said to follow Him we must deny our self and take up our cross and follow. Here in our text there are many like many of us today. Many coming to Jesus saying I will follow you but let me first handle the cares of this world. Too many of God's children render to Caesar time and things which belongs to God. Too many are putting worldly affairs ahead of our  godly commitments and obligations. With one breath we profess God as the head of our life, yet we give Him the tail end of our service. We pay our tithes with our last not our first, we ask His direction after we have made our decision. But Jesus said seek ye first the kingdom of  God; That means before you do anything else, seek God.

Here Jesus tells one of the men , if you start with me and then turn and look back at what you are leaving, looking back as to long to go back, looking back in a moment of doubt and fear that you are not worthy of His kingdom. Are you looking back missing the life God saved you from? Do you look back in fear or are you moving forward in faith? Is Jesus truly the head of your life? What will you make more important than Jesus?

Make Jesus Your Choice

Luke 10:41-42 "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her".

We have been called into the service of the Lord. We are Ambassadors for Christ, chosen to bear fruit and fruit that will last. But often we get to busy doing other things that we don't take the time to commune with the Lord. Sometimes we get so busy and so troubled with doing, that we don't take the time to hear and study the word of the Lord.

In our text today Jesus is at the house of Mary and Martha. Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him in obedient worship, while Martha on the other hand is busy serving and busing herself in the worldly affairs. She then complains to Jesus and ask that He ash Mary to help her, but Jesus lets her know that there is only one thing that man needs in life and that Mary has chosen that good part. See there is nothing man needs more important than a relationship with Christ. In fact the word of God says to seek ye first the kingdom of God and the other stuff will be added to you. What Martha was doing was important, but what Mary was doing was more important.

We can't go out into a dying world and bear witness to something that we ourselves have not witnessed. Until we come to know God for ourselves we can't even begin to tell someone else about Him. Let us not get so busy in worldly cares that we neglect our time with the Lord. Let us be sure to choose that thing which is needed and which can never be taken from us. Let us make Jesus our choice.

I Should Have been Dead

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".

Here we have God's unbelievable love and the great depth of Justification. This passage also gives one of the clearest definitions of agape love. It is a new kind of love, a love unknown to mankind. It is a godly love, a sacrificial love, a love that gives itself for those without strength, for the ungodly, for sinners, and for the enemies of God. It's God's unbelievable love.

God's great love is seen in this unbelievable act. We should have been dead. We were without strength; we were weak, worthless, useless, helpless, hopeless, destitute, powerless, we were spiritually unable to help ourselves. We were ungodly, not like God, different from God, profane, having a different lifestyle than God. We were on our way to Hell in a hurry, and in due time, in God's time, He sent His Son to die for us. See mankind had to be prepared for Christ before God could send Him into the world. We had to know that we were sinners in need of salvation. Even now we must come to the realization that we are lost before we will began to look to be saved. Christ died for us, for our benefit, because of our sins. Christ didn't died for those who  were righteous or holy, but God commended His love toward us that while we were yet sinner, still in sin, enemies to God, Christ died for us. 

It is impossible for the carnal mind to fully comprehend all that God did for man that man might be reconciled back to his loving creator. So Jesus told us to only believe. Let us take God at His word and accept on faith this unbelievable love He has given us. Jesus Christ and Him crucified.But remember we should have been dead.

He Took Our Place

Roman 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly".

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". He took our place. We deserved Hell but He died that we might receive Heaven. We should be dead , but He died that we might have life. I love Him because He first loved me, as He took my place.

When I was without strength, when I was to weak to say no to the lust will and desires of my flesh. While I was too weak to fight off the wiles and temptations brought on by the tempter. While I was yet a sinner, without  God or any knowledge of Him. While I was rebelling against Him and all He stood for, at the right time, in God's time, in due time, Christ was whipped for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities and hung on a cross and died for my sin. Yes He took my place.

Jesus went through, and accepted all that lied before me, when I was without strength. Christ died for the ungodly that we might become sons of God. Our life is no longer our own. It was purchased with the death and shed blood of Christ to do with as He sees fit. Christ is our way to a new life, a holy life, a perfected life in Him with God. He is now the strength within us that allows us to stand against all that the evil one throws our way. He is our protection against any weapon, and none shall prosper. See He took our place.

Come out Of The Plains

Genesis 19:20 Behold now ,this city is near to flee unto , and it is a little one : Oh let me escape thither,(is it not a little one?)and my soul shall live".

We are children of the most high God. With this comes a certain responsibility and commitment. We are the called of God to be a light upon a hill, called to bear fruit and fruit that will last. We have been instructed to flee to the mountain yet many have settled in the plains. There is a danger of settling in the plains, So let us flee to the mountain and get closer to God.

In our text today we have the all to familiar story of Lott and Sodom and Gomorrah. God had warned Lott that HE was going to destroy the city because of  it's wickedness. He told Lott to get his family and flee to the mountain, but Lott felt he couldn't make it to the mountain, and wanted to settle in the plains. Many today who have been called out of the wickedness of this world have decided to settle in the plains instead of fleeing to the mountain. There is a great danger of settling in the plains. See the plains were too close to Sodom and all the wickedness that was there. Many are too close to sin and the life that God has called them out of to live a life pleasing to God. We leave a life of drugs but we are to close to fornication and adultery. Like Lott said it is a little one, many get pulled into a life of sin by the little one. It might be a little affair, a little lie, just a little sin, but remember a little leaven ruins the whole lump. Let us flee the plains and make the uphill journey up the mountain.

The mountain is closer to God and further away from the life we have been called out of. Yes it is harder to climb a mountain than it is to rest in the plain, but God said to flee to the mountain. God is calling us to get closer to Him, to draw neigh to Him that He might draw neigh to us. Let us make the uphill journey to be close to God in all that we do, that we might live a life pleasing to God and bear fruit and fruit that will last. 

A Little Dab will Do You

Galatians 5:9 " A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump".

We who profess Christ have been called into a life of holiness and perfection.We are called to be Christ like, to be the light upon a hill that will lead those in darkness into God's marvelous light.Our life is no longer our own, we have been bought with a price.Not with the corruptible gold or silver, but with the incorruptible blood of Jesus and we now must walk worthy of the name that we bear.

We are the salt of the earth, called to bear fruit and fruit that will last,and as such we must be mindful of all that we do and the places we go.We are our brothers keeper and if eating meat will cause our brother to stumble we must be careful not to eat meat before him.It doesn't take much for our good to be evil spoken of, and go from being a light house to a stumbling block.No we can't live our lives based on what others might say or do, but we must at all times live a life that is pleasing to God and that will lead a lost soul to seek salvation.We can't always live holy  but we can always be holy.We might not always live perfect ,but we must remember to be ye perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.

Here Paul tells us that a little sin makes it all sin.A little lie makes it all a lie.When traveling on this upward road just a little wrong turn can take us off the path of righteousness. Let us stay focus and keep our mind on Jesus and let Him direct our paths that we will continue to be a light house and not a stumbling block....

We Will Over Come

1 John 5:4 " For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world;and this is the victory that overcometh the world,even our faith".

What is meant by this world?The power of sin all around us:the influence which operates towards evil,and makes the commandments and purposes of God grievous to society.The prince of this world has much to do with this evil power.The world and all it represents is our foe and we must fight it and with it.We must fight it's temptations,and it's pull on the souls which our Savior died for.We must contend until we overcome the world ,or it will overcome us.We must break loose from the customs of the world,maintaining our freedom to obey a higher Master in all things.We are not to be enslaved with the dread of poverty,greed of riches,personal ambitions,love of honor,fear of shame or the force of numbers.We are raised above all circumstances, and find happiness in invisible things; thus by faith we overcome the world.

The world is like a False Prophet,it promises what it cannot fulfill. It presents false hopes, a false sense of security and empty promises.These empty treasures offered by the world trap many and led them into everlasting damnation.We are above the world's authority,it's ancient customs are for it's children,we do not own it as a parent ,ruler or judge.We are above it's example, influence, and spirit, for we are of the heavenly.It is by faith in God word, we can over come the deceptions of this world and the gods of this world.We are crucified to the world and the world to us through faith in Jesus Christ.We are above it's religion,we gather our religion from a relationship with the true and living God and His word.We have been born again,born of God,born of a new nature, and this nature alone will defeat the challenges of this world.This nature is born to conquer all opposition, for that which is born of God is royal and ruling. He who created can't be overcome,neither can those born of Him. Jesus was never defeated,neither will those conformed to him fail of ultimate triumph.

The weapon we will use to overcome,our faith in God's word.The unseen rewards which lie in his promises.The promises he gave us in Jesus,God's word made flesh.God and the cloud of witnesses hold us in full view.The powerful union with Christ which grace has given to all who believe,resting in Jesus,we overcome the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world,our faith in Jesus Christ.We must believe,greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.We believers must never forget ,we are soldiers of the over comer for Jesus said,"Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world".Got Jesus? 

The Gift From The Grave Yard

Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for He is risen,as He said come,see the place where the Lord lay".

Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God, laid down His life so He could pick it up again.There is a gift from the grave.Jesus died and rose again on the third day morning with all power in His hands.He Gave us such a gift,the gift of eternal life from a place of the dead.

Well the tomb was empty.That means God kept His word,the perfect plan of salvation was now set in motion.There is good news in the fact that there is life beyond the grave.There is an everlasting life. Good news that Jesus rose with all power, even power over death and the grave.Good news that the debt for sin has been paid in full; the adoption papers have been filled out completely and all we have to do is sign on to become a member of the Holy family of God.Good news that we can now become the righteousness of God,that we can come boldly to the throne of grace through the blood of Jesus and cry "abba father".For He is risen,the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross has been accepted.By way of His death man can be reconciled back to a Holy and righteous God.

There is good news that we will all one day have a resurrected body,but in the mean time we can die with Jesus in faith and rise again with Him in a newness of life by faith,for He has conquered death and him that has power of death.There is good news from the empty tomb, will you share this good news?

A Heart Of Sorrow

Judges 10:15 "And the children of Israel said unto the Lord,We have sinned:do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee;deliever us only,we pray thee,this day".

Repentence Starts with the heart,an acknowledgement of the truth of what we have done and a deliberate turning away from the sin.Then we must make a conscience decision we will love the Lord with all our heart,soul and mind serving Him only.This love will be evident in our obedience to His word,and our love for one another.

Many time we call out to the Lord to save us from situation or a circumstance.We make various promises to God saying if you get me out of this or that I will serve you with all my heart.But once delievered, we often times fall back into the same old routine, once again forgetting God and our promise to Him.In our story today the children of Israel once again turned from God to worship idols,and when they found themselves in trouble they once again cried out to the one true and living God.But this time God told them to call on the god's they had been serving.But the Children of Israel continued to cry out even confessing their sins,they turn from their wicked ways and was seeking the salvation of the Lord.

A broken and contrite heart the Lord can't deny;The Israelites put away the forgien gods and turned to the Lord.Like a sensitive mother who can't bear to hear her baby's cry, God's heart melted,He forgave their rebelliousness, and rescued them once again from their enemies.God always hears and responds to repentant people.However the desire of every believer should be to walk closley with God moment by moment,not just in times of a crises.



Why Do You Seek Jesus?

John 6:26-27 "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed".

Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God,the creator and saviour of the whole world.The answer to every prayer ever prayed.The fulfilled promise from God to mankind,and I ask why do you seek Him.
With all the Jesus is, does, and has, why is it that you seek Him in your life?Is is because of the miracle of salvation or because of things of this world.

Jesus came to pay the price for man's salvation, He died that we might live.John said "Behold the lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world".The purpose for Jesus birth ,death, and His glorious resurrection was to set man free from sin and the guilt of sin.But we tend to think He died that we might obtain the riches of this world.Jesus didn't have to die for us to be rich, there were people who prospered with material wealth even before Jesus came.Jesus died that man might be free from sin and once again have a relationship with his creator.Here in this text Jesus tells the many who followed Him, you didn't seek me for salvation, but for the things I blessed you with.Many of us today don't seek Christ for our salvation, but for the promise of what we can get from Him.We tend to work hard for the things of this world that will perish, but tend to hit and miss when it comes to having a relationship with Christ.He tells us to labor for that which is everlasting.

Let us not get so caught up in the empty promises of this world,hung up seeking it's joys and toys,and let us seek after that which is forever.Let us seek after Christ for the salvation of our soul and the promise of ever lasting life.Know that God will bless us with the things of this world He feels we need in our life.Remember,He will withhold no good thing from us,but we should seek ye first the kingdom of God,and the things of the world shall be added to you.So I ask why do you seek Jesus?

Can't Keep A Good Man Down

Matthew 28:6 "He Is not here:For he is risen,as he said.Come,see the place where the Lord lay".

The resurrection is the basis for hope in the Christian faith.The women who came to the tomb expected to find death.Instead, they met an angel who told them that Jesus had risen.Belief that Jesus rose is the key to the completion of his promise that we will rise also.Believers can also experience Ressurection power in their lives.Without this assurance, Paul said,"we are of all men most miserable".The first witnesses were commanded to go and tell the disciples then later tell the world.Go and tell remains the command for believers today who have discovered the wonder of the risen Christ in their lives.

Go and tell is the command to every man and woman who has discovered the power of Christ.It is through the sharing of this good new that we have the power to change the world.We must tell people that the resurrection brings regeneration into the lives of those who are spiritually dead,through the power of the Holy Spirit,bringing about a new birth,changing one from the inside out.This is the basis for the Church's witness to the world. Every believer can share this certainty with all confidence.Of course,a great controversy has always surrounded the resurrection.The Jewish priest paid the guards to deny what happened that day,and there are still millions of people who deny the resurrection, in word and in deed.Sometime we don't live like he rose with all power. Our lives sometimes hide the fact that He got up.We at times live life like we don't trust that he overcame the world and all it's temptations, and thus harms our witness to the world.

 

 A witness is one who tells what he or she knows as a certainty. You can only witness that which you seen or experienced. Countless people who have been touched and changed by meeting the living Jesus provide undeniable evedience of the resurrection.The way they live their life is their witness that he rose,and rose with all power.The first disciples were commanded to be witness,and each of us whose lives have been changed by the resurrection must invite those who need Him to know Him.The truth that He got up, gives hope to a needy world.Share with a lost and dying world the fact that you can't keep a good man down, for  He got up, God raised Him up ,with all power in His hands.

Rest For The Weary

Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you,and learn of me;for I am meek and lowly in heart:and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

In the first part of this chapter Jesus taught the solemn truth of human responsibility,and afterwards he had joyfully proclaimed in prayer the doctrine of election.Now he turns to give a free and full invitation to those who are needing rest.We must remember who it is  who is inviting men to come to him.The Son of the most high God,bids men to draw near to Himself without fear,and he will give them rest.

We draw near to God through the study of His word.God said "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge",it is not that the knowledge is not available,it is that the people of God do not make themselves avavilable to receive the knowledge.We go to church but we don't attend Sunday school and bible study.Some of us don't even open our bibles until instructed to by the person who is bringing the word that day.So Jesus said "Come to me", come to the person of Christ,the living Savior and our example of how to live this earthly life.Come to Him with your whole heart,don't just come to chuch, come to Jesus.Take His yoke upon you, be obedient to His word, but you must first have to know what His word says.So much is being taught today that is not in the bible, and it is a doctrine that gives birth to lame and weak sheep.We are teaching people to doubt the power of Him who has all power.Jesus said "I have power over all flesh" yet we act as though He has no power in our life.He said "take no thought", yet we spend countless hour worring about that which we have no control over.So learn of Him and enter into His rest.

Christ said I will give you rest, not I will show you rest,nor tell you of rest, but I will give you rest for your soul.Christ said believe in me and I will give you rest,I will give you peace with God and peace with conscience.I will turn your storms into everlasting calm.I will give you a rest the world cannot take from you.The more we learn of Jesus the more we can take rest in His promises.Many are wondering through a vast wilderness of doubt ,disbelief,and worry because they don't know enough to know Christ as a way out of no way. Christ said "Learn of Me".

Robbers In The Church

Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me.But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee?In tithes and offerings."

A Lot is made of the thief that railed on Jesus from the cross,but little is said of the robbers that are in the church house every Sunday Morning.The word of God tells us to render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's and unto God that which is God's, but there are many that rob God of that which is His. Now most of us tend to render to Ceasar his do, you know we go to work we pay our bills,we provide for all of the earthy needs,which is good,but in doing so we tend to rob God of His due,stealing His glory and depriving Him of that which He has bought and paid for.

In this tight economy we sometimes feel we don't make enough or have enough to pay our tithes, or give an offering.Well when you don't have enough to pay your tithes that when you should pay your tithes. God can do more with your little bit than you can with a whole lot.Your tithes is just that which you owe Him, many rob Him with our offerings.to We pay our tithes at the liquor store, shoe store,clothing store,and the mall while we give our offering at the casinos,to the bill collectors,and give God what ever is left.God don't need our money, the earth is the Lord and the fullness there of.We not only rob Him of our monatary offerings,but we don't even offer Him our whole life.He died for us yet we give Ceasar the life which truly belong God.All that we have comes from God yet many times we don't even say thank you to Him thus even stealing the glory that is due Him.

Let us give God the first and the best of our fruits.Give Him the first two hours and forty minutes of everyday and feel the glory of the Lord as He directs your paths and fills you with the joy of His salvation.Offer Him your total heart and watch Him work miracles in you and through you.Give Him the first tenth of your earnings and watch Him open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing you can't hold.Trust in God, don't rob Him out of fear from this world,after all He told us be of good cheer for He has overcome this world.Don't talk about the thief on the cross, and be a robber in the Church........ 

Something Money Can't Buy

Acts 8:20 "But Peter said unto him,Thy money perish with thee,because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money."

Salvation is not for sale. There is no amount of money you can give that can save you.You cannot buy the indwelling of God spirit that comes in and changes a lost soul into a child of God.Jesus paid the cost when He shed His blood on Calvery.Through His death and His alone we can receive the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Here Simon who once decieved the people that he was someone great,and the people from the greatest to the least though he was one great from God.Now believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God and was baptized with the rest of the people.God's word is the power of God unto salvation it can change a sinner into a saint.There are many today who go about decieving the people.They go about selling the power of God's word  in the form of prayer cloths, miracle oils and water,and yes even in the seeds of faith,as the people believe them to be someone great from God.After he was baptized,Simon continued with Phillip and beheld the miracles and signs that were done.When Simon saw that when Peter and John laid hands on the people they received the Holy spirit, he offered them money to have that same power.

We don't have to pay money to receive the power of the Holy Spirit,we only need to believe.When you accept Christ as your personal savior,and surrender your life to Him,you have all the power He has, for the life you now live in the flesh you live by faith of the Son of God. See it's not I, but Christ that lives in me. He rose with all power,so I, in faith have access to this same power,if I only believe.It is not for sale...........

I Know A Man

John 4:29" Come,see a man,which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ".

Here Jesus' interview with the Samaritian woman establishes,for all the readers of John's Gospel, that salvation is for everyone,regardless of social,or racial position.If we want to be an effictive witness for the Lord, we must be willing to cross all barriers.The wall of separation has been destroyed,God is now accessable to all through Jesus Christ.Let us tell all we see "I know a man".

 

In this scene at Jacob's well,the metaphor of water that satisfied the woman's physical thirst is seen as our need for spiritual nourishment that can satisfy the thirsty soul.Jesus initiated the conversation by asking for a drink.He then offered her "living water" that would meet her eternal needs.We must realize that Jesus is that one thing that meets our most basic need.Jesus did not rush His discussion with the woman.He began where she was,drawing water.We too should share at the other person's pace,meet them where they are in Christ.We all have a story to share, if Jesus has changed our life. When Jesus told the woman that He was the Messiah, the woman went immediately to share her experience with those in her town.She invited all to "come see a man", she challenged them to answer for themselves:"Could this be the Christ?" 

What will you do with Jesus? God has given him to us all,now will you invite all to come and see? When a Christian shares his or her story,they never know how far the gospel will reach,and they never know how much one changed life can change the world.Remember Jesus started with twelve,look how far their testimony have come.Let us tell all that we see about the man from Galilee.

Your Biggest Enemy

James 4:3 "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,that ye may consume it upon your lusts.".

We are our biggest enemy.We are the reason that we don't receive all that God has for us.God cannot lie so all that He promises us is before us for the taking, but we hinder our own ability to grab hold of the promises of God.God has done His part,Jesus has done His part,And the Holy spirit has done His part.Now let us do our part and only believe to receive all that God has for us.

Many of our trials and tribulations that we face come from within and not without.Some of  the toughest battles we will fight are the ones between the inner man and the outer man.The war between the lust and desires of our flesh and the moral values of our spirit.we desire so much from the Lord, but we cannot obtain it because of our own lack of faith and disbelief.We have not, because we ask not,and when we do ask, we don't ask believing we will receive it,no it is with doubt and unbelief that we petition God.We ask Him to give us strength as we are preparing to give in to the temptations of the devil.Why bother asking God to save you from that you are willfully giving in to.Why ask Him for something that in your heart you either don't want or you don't believe you will get it.Don't you know it is a sin not to believe God.

 It seems that it is who we are that keeps us from becoming who God has called us to be.It is what we don't have, that prevents us from obtaining what God has for us.We are our biggest enemy.

What If

2Chronicles 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 sin,and will heal their land".

Here we have the solution to all that is wrong in the world.No matter how bad things seems to be, here God has given us the way for all to be right with the world.We as christians whole the key to a peaceful world.We hold the weapon that can end all that sin has brought into the world.But it will only work if we do it God's way.So what if we did?

Here we have God's response to a prayer of Solomon.Solomon had built the temple of the Lord and he prayed that God would hear the prayer of any who just looked to the temple with a sincere heart in need of help.What if we truly believed what God's word says.What if His people, those who profess to be born of Him, those who are called by His name; would first humble themselves,realizing we need God,and we cried out  to Him with a sincere heart, calling on Him in our day of trouble and with all of our heart begin to seek His face.Desiring to be in His presence and invited Him into our life. What if we were to truly turn from our wicked ways.Laying aside every weight and the sin, in our life which keeps us from entering holy worship and devotion with our God.What if instead of protesting we prayed,instead of complaining we prayed,instead of quiting we prayed.What if God will do just what He said and heal the land.

God cannot lie,every word spoken by God, must come to pass.Every promise He made must be kept. Every judgement passed will be carried out.But what if we tried God in our efforts to find peace. What if we picked up bibles instead of guns.What if we lifted Jesus up instead of putting each other down.What if we shared the gospel as readily as we share gossip.What if we actual lived the life in the real world we profess to live on the social network.What If.............

Caring For The Feet

John 13:5 "After that he poureth water into a bason,and began to wash the disciples' feet,and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded".


Religion today has seemed to be more about personal popularity and less about caring and seeking the lost souls of the world.But the word of God says pure religion undefiled is caring for the widows, fatherless and the less fortunate among us.What happened?Are we not are our brothers keeper, isn't the strong to bear the infirmites of the weak?Are there no more feet washers among those seeking and in the leadership roles of todays Church?Well if you want to be the head you must be willing to care for the feet.

There was a time when the church and its leadership took care of the people,now it seems the people are suppose to take care of the church leaders.I remember a few years ago, a world famous Bishop was asked to come pray for some soilders who was about to depart to Iraq to go to war.He turned them down because they could not meet the price he charged for such a service.It is sad when we began to put a price on the salvation or the need for prayer,for a soul that Jesus paid for with His life.Many in leadership positions have office hours as to when you can call on them,yet the enemy is attacking 24/7.To whom much is given much is required.It is the job of the head to care for the feet,remember the good shepherd laid down His life for the sheep.Now true, God hasn't asked us to physically die to save anyone, but we can lay down our lives metaphorically to lead the lost to the salvation of the Lord.

There is nothing wrong with the desire of being a leader.God's word says he who desires the office of a Bishop desires a good thing.But if you desire the office, make sure you are committed to doing the work.Be willing to feed the flock,and not look to feed off the flock.If you are truly the called of God, he will provide all that you need without you having to fleece the flock to eat.A true servant of the Lord will always care for the feet,Jesus did..............

How Great Thou Art

Psalm 104:1 "Bless the Lord,O my soul.O Lord my God,thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty."

As one meditates upon this Psalm,it sings of the greatness of God and of the gift he has given to man. God's glory,He is honored in that the heavens,and the elements depict His majesty.He is honored by the beast of the field, the birds of the air,and all of nature obeys His laws.All of  His creation responds to His will,but man.

Man has been given the power of choice,he may disobey God,he may reject God's love,and may turn a deaf ear to his call,but in the end must give glory to God and acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ. Unfortunately ,this might come to late to bring salvation (Phil.2:11).God in His power gives life, protects life and preserves life.Through His power we shall be victorious over death,the grave, and hell.With His grace He has supplied man with all he needs.We have the assurance of His presence and power,to guide our ever move,to give us strength for every task,and to protect us from all evil. The greatness of God is all laid up in His wonderful gift to all mankind.

When we accept this wonderful gift God has given us we can enjoy a peaceful life in the rest of our Father which art in Heaven.We will have happiness and joy that can come from no other source.But all of this hinges upon one thing,it all comes through Jesus Christ,God offers the gift,but will you accept it?

When The Lights Go Out

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".

There was a time when 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 fallen 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...............

Separation And Submission

Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother,and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh".

The life of a truly born again Christian is one of separation and submission.We must totally separate from all the things of the old man.We must mortify all of our members,putting to death the old man and his ways,that our members can now be use unto the righteousness of God.Then we must be in total submission to the new life in the new man in Christ.Choosing Christ and the will of God over the empty pleasures of this world.

In our text we see God establishes marriage.How the two are to become one.The man leaving his mother and father to cleave to his wife.The life of what God intended for marriage to be, is a metaphor of what a life of a Christian should be.We are to separate and submit. We are to leave the ways of the old man,and cleave to the life of the new man, and the two shall be one.Jesus said in the gospel of John the we should become one with Him as He and the Father are one.So just as a man leaves his father and mother and joins his wife, we who profess Christ are to leave the carnal and cleave to the spiritual and become one with Christ Jesus
We are to take on the ways of our new life.Our joy is to be in the new life with Christ.Let us Now separate ourselves from this world and the things of this world and become one with our new life in Christ.

Must like marriage we have the choice of choosing whom we will serve,but we don't have the choice of how we will serve them.Just as you must love honor and obey in marriage,(if you plan on staying married)there is a way you must be in service with the Lord,for they that worship the Lord MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.Let us separate form the old and submit to this new life in Christ to form a more perfect union, as we two can become one.