Gods word shine like a Lamp

1 Corinthians 14:36

Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

The Corinthians felt that they had exclusive insight into the truth of the Bible. As a result, most of this letter is filled with rebukes for a church filled with pride and sin. It is imperative to realize that there are people who call upon the name of the Lord yet live out their faith in markedly differently fashions. Some are more liturgical, others more informal, but all are expressing their love for God. So remember Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians, for it will keep you from isolating yourself and judging others who are your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Or did the word of God come originally from you?

The Greek expects a “no” answer to this question. Human standards are not the norm for the church services. The Corinthian church did not possess unique revelation to itself. No church should think of itself as the sole guardian of truth or special privilege over other churches. This question of Paul’s is dripping with sarcasm.

Or was it you only that it reached?

Again, the Greek expects a “no” answer to the second question. The Corinthian church was not the only church in God’s domain. Paul gave revelations of other New Testament books to other churches in Greece, such as Philippi and Thessalonica. God revealed to him New Testament books sent to Ephesus, Colossae, and other cities. The Bible was not the Corinthian church’s exclusive possession.

In persuading the Corinthians to accept the teaching, Paul had already appealed to nature namely, the importance of order in the church to conform to God peaceful nature. Here is the apostle emphasizing the importance of conformity, not only for the Christian church throughout the world, but also with the origin of Christian truth. The Corinthians did not invent the truth that Paul taught. The Christian message has traveled from Jerusalem throughout most of the Roman world.

Only Jesus Can

Mark 9:8

Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

Peter, James, and John had watched as Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. Not only that, but Moses and Elijah appeared, and Jesus had a conversation with them. But Moses and Elijah were gone now. And when it was all over, there stood Jesus, reminding us that is who we need.

We don't need Jesus and the Law, because Jesus fulfilled all of it. We don't need Jesus and the sacraments. We don't even need Jesus and good works. If you really know Jesus, however, good works will follow. Works don't save a person, but they are a good evidence that a person is saved. If you really are a follower of Christ, there will be results that are evident in your life.

We need Jesus. This is not only true of salvation, but of life in general. When you go through a crisis, here is what you need to know: you need Jesus. Friends will help you. Family will help you. And Jesus can work through family and friends. But sometimes friends will disappoint. And family will let you down. Sometimes the advice that friends will give to try and help will actually cause more pain.

People have come to me and said, "I have lost a loved one. Is there a book I should read? Is there someone I should talk to?" There are books that I can recommend and things that I can say. But what I ultimately will say is, "You know what you need right now? You need Jesus. You need to lean into Him. You need to trust in Him. You need to cling to Him. That is what you need."

 

The New Testament Christians believed that they would be saved through the blood of Christ. (Eph. 1.7.) From his creation in the garden of Eden man has shown the greatest disobedience. (Gen. 3.11.) The same disobedience continues today In the minds of people whom God created in His image. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3.23.)

We inherited death as a result of disobedience. But through Jesus Christ we are saved. "But not as the offense, so also is the free gift: for if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." (Rom. 5.15.) "But thanks be to God which give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Cor. 13.57.)

Only Jesus will get you through this. Only Jesus can heal a broken heart. Only Jesus can give you the strength to go on.

We Must Live Our lives Worthy Of The Lord

 Colossians 1:9-10

 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge ...of God.

According to Paul, truth is revealed by our lives, not just our thoughts. But the information age causes a problem: we think that because we've learned about something that we are living it. We want to gather data about prayer, but we fail to pray! But Paul reminds us that it's the actual actions of our lives that proclaim the truth that we know. We know enough, now it's time to apply. What do you need to apply today? Don't try to get more information, do what you know now!

Let me elaborate! Paul's chef concern is that the Colossians might have full knowledge of God's will. The desire to serve God will be in vain without a proper understanding of the One we want to serve. Thus Paul prays that Colossians might be filled with the knowledge that encompasses all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Wisdom is the practical outworking of knowledge (See James 3:17) and that knowledge cannot be separated from the spiritual understanding that come through the discernment given by the Holy Spirit.

In addition to the full knowledge of the Lord's will mention in vs.9 Paul indicated that the strong desire of Colossians may walk worthy of the Lord. This should apply to Today's Christians. Paul wanted the Colossians to live in a manner that adequately reflected what God has done for them and was doing in

them. Being worthy of God is a phase that occurs in ancient pagan inscriptions throughout Asia It pictures someone's life being weighed on a scale to determine its worth. If these devotees to false gods knew they had to walk in a worthy manner, certainly Christians should dedicate their lives to the living
God in order to please Him..

Psalms 18:1-2 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Have a blessed Tuesday Stay strong in the lord. Let God shine in your walk with Him!

Jesus Is Our Intercessor

Romans 8:34

 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

What a comfort it is to know that... Christ intercedes for us in heaven. Why is that important? Because the devil will come and whisper in our ear, "Why don't you go ahead and sin? No one will ever know. I won't tell if you won't." So we take the bait and do the wrong thing.

Then the devil comes right back to us and says, "You miserable hypocrite! Do you think you are worthy to approach God? Do you think God will hear your prayers?" He comes with the temptation, and when we take the bait, he comes with the accusations.

Think of it as a courtroom with Jesus as our defense attorney and the devil as the prosecutor. The Bible says the devil accuses us before God, day and night (see Revelation 12:10-11). He basically says to God, "You know, this person is a hypocrite. She is not a good Christian. You should not hear her prayers."

So Jesus essentially says, "Yeah, I know she is messed up, but I love her and am interceding for her." That is our Intercessor, interceding before God on our behalf.

Note: The heavenly defeat of Satan is followed by reference to his earthly setbacks, including the crucifixion of Christ (The Blood Of The Lamb), the verbal witness of believers (the word of their testimony), and the martyrdom of some of the brethren. All these events precede the coming of the Kingdom of our God

The resurrection of Jesus Christ assures me that He is interceding in heaven for me. Romans 8:34 says, "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

And Hebrews 7:25 tells us, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Why Jesus priesthood is superior to any other, Higher than the heavens means Christ is exalted above all and sit in glory at the right hand of the Father. The high priest offered an annual sacrifice on the Day of Atonement for the atonement for the people sins. But the priest also offered sacrifice every day before the Lord (See Exodus 29:36) In contrast - watch this! Jesus offered Himself once, a perfect sinless sacrifice.
The permanent, eternal nature of Jesus priesthood establish by an Oath of God is sharp contrast to the temporal, weak nature of the levitical priesthood.

It is not hard to be a Christian; it is impossible—without God's help. And because Jesus died and rose again, He intercedes for us before the Father..See More

So I Say, Live By The Spirit

 Galatians 5:16

 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature

 

The apostle Paul gives us an important hint in what it takes to truly change: we don't make a decision to keep away from the desires of our sinful nature, we make a decision to live by the Spirit! We need to focus our gaze on where we want to go instead of looking at what we want to avoid. Let's start this today by taking our gaze off of our weaknesses and refocus it on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. When we do, we find that He can change us more than our resolutions. Let examine this a little closer and add in Grace alone with faith.

... Ephesians 6:16 Above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. This represent and by all means the shield is to be use against everything. Think of a shield of armor that cover a Roman soldier whole body. This same shield is used for Christian it offers protection against all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Flaming arrows could not penetrate the fireproof shield of the ancient Roman soldier, nor can the assaults of Satan penetrate the believers (Christian) who place their faith in God.

Hebrew 12:28 Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is consuming fire. Grace is an enabler it allow us to receive God power and mercy to help us to overcome our shortcomings. “Grace Stops Sin” we cannot do it ourselves by our own will.

Ephesians 2:8-10 Christian have been saved by grace. The grace of God is the source of salvation, Faith is the channel, not the cause. God alone saves. Salvation never originates I the efforts of people, it always arises out of lovingkindness of God. “Truly” Salvation is of the Lord. The past tense of the verb saved in this passage indicates that the believer's salvation has already occurred in the past, at the cross. The gift of salvation. Thus Paul is saying that even our belief in God does not originate in ourselves. This too is a gift.

God didn't just rescue us He empowered us through grace. In closing I’m leaving you this example: Take a root buried in the ground its like grace God has buried in our natural body located in our spirit. A root start in the ground and grows out to surface upward bound, this is the same for our natural bodies. God place this in our spirit to grow within you to empower your natural body to overcome fear and sinful nature and to be fruitful in your walk with Christ. Be blessed. Happy Friday and may God be with you always. Love you all.

Live by The Spirit

Galatians 5:16 

 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

How many times have we made resolutions only to find ourselves discouraged by the 2nd or 3rd week (...maybe even the 2nd day!). Every year we intend to stop this or lose that - so much so that we resign ourselves each year to making a list with the assumption that we won't keep it.

But the apostle Paul gives us an important hint in what it takes to truly change: we don't make a decision to keep away from the desires of our sinful (flesh) nature, we must make a decision to live by the Spirit! the Holy Spirit means dependence on Him and His divine resources. We must keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). Keeping in step with the Spirit sounds very mysterious. Actually it means that we submit ourselves to and rely on the Spirit. We look to Him for help--daily trusting Him and praying to Him for understanding and strength (Ephesians 1:17-18). We must be filled with (or controlled by) the Spirit

We need to focus our sight on where we want to go instead of looking at what we want to avoid. Let's start this moment by taking our sight off of our weaknesses of the worldly flesh and allow God to renew of your mind with the life-changing truth of God's Word (Ephesians 4:22-24; See verses 25-32 for some specific examples). As you learn to practice the truth, you gradually become more and more godly--like Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:7). and refocus it on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. When we do, we find that He can change us more than our resolutions!

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5. Let Him conform your spirit in His likeness “Today” set your eyes on Jesus and not let us fall short of this world (flesh) nature. Be consumed by Gods “Spirit” Saints God is your “ First Love” Don't separate yourself from His divine spirit Love..

In God Eyes

 2Thessalonians 2:13

 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belie...f in the truth.

If you had foreknowledge and decided to go and bet on a horse in a race, would you bet on a loser or a winner?

Sometimes we look at our lives and wonder, Why would God choose a loser? But here is what we need to realize. God doesn't just see your weakness. He sees you for what you can become.

I don't know what state you are in today. Maybe you feel pretty beaten up spiritually. Maybe you have failed in some way, shape, or form. Maybe there has been a moral failure in your life that has just been revealed, and you are facing the consequences of that. Or maybe it hasn't been revealed yet, but you are engaged in things that you know you should not be doing.

Maybe you wonder at times why God called you to follow Him in the first place. God has foreknowledge. He knows what will happen before it happens. If that is the case, then why would God pick someone like you or me?


Paul emphasizes the important of believing the truth. Again he began with thanksgiving. Paul continue to give thanks to the Lord for the believers. He was thankful for their salvation which was base on God's choice for them, His works in them through the spirit and the word, and their ultimate glorification chose. Now the Greeks tense of this word indicates that in the past God had chosen the Thessalonians to be His people, set apart as holy in Him. Their salvation was accomplished by the spirit when they placed their faith in Christ. Take a moment to understand the balance of the spirit and truth (the word)


The spirit without the word is mute. He has nothing to say. The word without the spirit is lifeless, and it as no power to act. The works of the spirit is always united with the works of the word ( the truth) to convict the believer of the truth.

If you look closely—and you have to be very close—you will see yourself in God's eyes. You will see that He loves you and cares about you. And He sees you for what you can become. God want to use you for His divine purpose to prepare yourself and others for His return. Matthew 28 “ The Great Commission ” God commanded to Abraham and his descendents to be a blessing to all nations. Go out to make disciples Teach them about Jesus and Baptize the them in the name of the Father – Son – and the Holy Spirit. God is one one in the same person. God is with us Always! Happy Wednesday to all my brothers and sisters in Christ
Love you all. Have a bless day!

God's Perfect Gift

 James 1:17

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows

 

 

James is contrasting God's nature with our nature in ...previous verses. Where as we are fickle, God never changes. He gives good (earthly) and perfect (heavenly) gifts to us. Sometimes we see God giving only heavenly gifts - salvation, guidance, peace. But he also gives earthly gifts - prosperity, success, favor. James balances the earthly and the heavenly when He refers to God as the Father of the heavenly lights, which were seen as trustworthy navigation tools. We may want to exploit the earthly gifts, or only emphasize the heavenly gifts, but our heavenly guide will use all of these gifts to transform us. The God who does not change uses good and perfect gifts to mold us into the children that will change the earth.

Prefect Gift

The first expression emphasizes the goodness of receiving something from God, which the second, the perfect quality of whatever God's giving is continuously good, and His gift is always perfect. Whether of nature, providence, or grace, and especially the latter; spiritual gifts given along with Christ, or spiritual blessings in him; every such gift is; the "best" gift; better than those which only relate to the present life: and is "perfect" such as the gifts of righteousness, remission of sins, adoption, regeneration, and eternal life.


The Jews say, that the good things of this world are not truly good, in comparison of the good things of the world to come, and are not, "a perfect good." And every such an one is from above; is not from a man's himself, but from the creature, or from below, but from heaven, and from Father God who dwells there: God the Father is the author of lights; of all corporeal light; as the sun, moon, and stars; of all natural, rational, and moral light, in angels and men; of all spiritual light, or the light of grace in regenerate persons; and of eternal light, the light of glory in the spirits of just then made perfect God, who is light itself, and in him is no darkness at all, there is no change, nor anything like it; he is changeable in his nature, perfections, purposes, promises, and gifts; wherefore he being holy, cannot turn to that which is evil; nor can he, who is the fountain of light, be the cause of darkness, or admit of any in him; and since every good and perfect gift comes from him, evil cannot proceed from him, nor can he tempt any to it.

God Knows Our True Heart!

Luke 16:16 -17

And He said to them. You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your heart. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

God use a word called “ Mammon a Greek word is a transliteration of a common Aramaic word means: money, wealth, and property. Question is: Is it impossible to serve this god called “mammon” and the true God at the same time? This word use as riches is considered an Idol, master , or god in the human heart that's a conflict with the true God.

Psalm 17:3

He have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and found nothing; I have purpose the my month shall not transgress.

Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of our hearts. Psalm 44:21 GOD UNDERSTANDS EVERY HEART & THE INTENTS OF OUR THOUGHTS - Psa. 139:1-4.We Can't Fool God About What is in Our Heart - Psa. 64:5-6.

1. Psa. 17:3; 44:21; 139:1-4 - God tests our hearts, knows our secrets & understands our thoughts!
2. God tests our hearts & rewards/punishes accordingly - Jer. 17:9-10.
3. So, we must purify our hearts before Him! - Matt. 5:8; Jas. 4:8
4. Scientists think they have made a breakthrough in detecting liars: Brain activity changes when you lie (cf. Polygraph: Reads physiological responses such as perspiration rates, blood pressure & heartbeat). "Scientist: Lies come from brain, not heart"
5. Examine this news item to see that the Bible has revealed this knowledge all along! (cf. 1 Cor. 1:20-25)

Let take this a little deeper to examine the righteousness of your heart. This is where God know the true believer. The heart of a man or woman is where your belief is the spirit of Gods word.


Romans 10:10 talk about Righteousness.
What is righteousness? We automatically think of a person trying or establishing a list of rules like a child would never step out of line. Paul speaks of righteousness in Romans This is far more then commonsense understanding of the word. He relates back to the Old Testament concept of righteousness Which speak of a proper relationship with God and the people or God and His people.


The Old Testament, righteousness is fundamental an attribute of God. He alone is truly righteous. He is the One who remains faithful, to His promise, He covenant to Israel, and the Law. In turn, the Israelites as God people had the responsibility to exemplify Gods righteousness on earth.


Now Paul is going to show you how the Israelites and the Gentles failed out of righteousness in Gods eyes. Tragically the Israelites did not comply. They proved unfaithfulness to Gods covenant, although God proved Himself as faithfully. By sending prophets to His people, the Lord warned them again and again of their sinfulness. Finally God had to discipline them with famine, military defeat, and even exile in Babylon. God remains faithful, and restored His people to the land and to Himself when they repented and turned to Him.

On the other hand the Gentles did not pursue a right relationship with their Creator so they have been given over to all kinds of evil (see 1:18-31) On the other hand the Jews through external obedience to the law and their traditions were attempting to justify themselves before God. Understandingly they both filed. Jesus is the only One who can stand before the glory of God again he is the only One that is truly righteous, Remarkably, He offered us a way out of our slavery of sin. By placing our faith and trust in Him (Jesus) we can be declared righteous. We can have righteousness that has nothing to do with our own works but instead to rely on Jesus sinless life and sacrificial death for our sins. The Lord has given us and declared us righteous because of our identification by faith with the righteousness of His Son.

I've realized that God is a great "behind the scenes worker." It's during those most important and quiet moments, when something is happening... Your prayers are being answered---God is working!

 

I've looked back at my life and can see all of the scary things you have gone through. He has taken care of every single one them. Through His grace and will. No matter what your life entails---take comfort in our Lord Jesus. He is by your side, He sees all, He knows all, and the best of all and He knows your heart. Stay in the righteousness of God covenant and be blessed. Love you all in Christ.

Give Thank Always

 

Give Thank Always

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

If we want to know the will of God for our lives here is one clue: Give thanks in all circumstances. One might say, "How could I give thanks? You don't know my circumstances. I have absolutely no reason to give thanks for what happened to me." But in not giving thanks we relegate ourselves to the tyranny of a broken and fallen world. The Bible speaks of a fallen creation that needs rescue. Giving thanks reminds us and aligns us with God's rescue plan for our lives.

We can give thanks “in everything” because we know that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28). God ordains adversity as well as prosperity. Every circumstance that comes our way is from God. Failure to accept this as true is an indication of skepticism about God’s plan for you. We can give thanks for everything because God is in control.

Complete Total Devotion

 John 12:3

 

 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

A...s John 12 begins, Jesus returns to Bethany for dinner with Mary, Martha, their resurrected brother Lazarus, and others. Suddenly, Mary does something very dramatic in verse 3: "Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair." This was no small act. Verse 5 tells us the perfume was worth a year's wages!

Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus in less than a week, seems to have a very godly response to this act, saying, "That perfume . . . should have been sold and the money given to the poor" (verse 5 NLT). Jesus replies to Judas in verses 7–8 by saying, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."

This reminds us that God sees things differently than we do. It's worth noting that every time we read of Mary in Scripture, she is sitting at Jesus' feet. Perhaps this is why she had such deep spiritual insight. Mary seemed to grasp a truth that was largely missed by the others: Jesus had to die. Not only did she have a unique understanding of who He was, but she also gave Him a wonderful gift—the most precious thing she owned.

Mary was moved to do something unusual, outstanding, and even extravagant to demonstrate her total devotion to Christ. She recognized that Jesus was going to Jerusalem to be betrayed and crucified. Although He had said so very bluntly on previous occasions, the disciples had simply missed it.

How is it that Mary had this incredible spiritual perception? Perhaps it was because of her willingness to set aside everything to be close to Him, to stop what she was doing, choose what was better, and simply sit at His feet. You may be thinking, "But I don't know what it means to 'sit at His feet.'"

Mary’s action in anointing Jesus’ feet is interpreted by Jesus as preparation for his burial. In this regard it is interesting that John is careful to point out in verse 3 that it was Jesus’ feet that she anointed. Normally one would not anoint the feet of a living person (rather the head—cf. Mk 14:3) but one could anoint the feet of a corpse while preparing it for burial. Thus Mary performed (unconsciously) a prophetic or symbolic action—one which Jesus understood but which the disciples almost certainly did not at the time.

If you, like Mary, want to be a spiritually insightful person, then you must learn to be a spiritually listening person. For example, you need to draw near to God in prayer asking Him to speak to you. You need to read the Bible believing it is the very Word of God. You need to listen to the sermon at church, expecting God to speak through it. For Mary, spending time at Jesus' feet changed her perspective, and she wanted to do something for Him. She wanted to show her love in a tangible way. And when you have truly been sitting at His feet, you will want to serve Him too. With a note characteristic of someone who was there and remembered, the Evangelist adds that the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. In the later rabbinic literature, “The fragrance of good oil is diffused from the bedroom to the dining hall, but a good name is diffused from one end of the world to the other.” If such a saying were known in the first century, this might be John’s way of indicating that Mary’s act of devotion would be spoken of throughout the entire world.

Gods Loved to the End

1 Timothy 2:3-4

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

People sometimes ask, "Do you think God would hear the prayer of some wicked person who called upon Him even in the very last moments of his life—if that person had done horrible things? Would God pardon a person like that?" Absolutely He would.

Sometimes we have loved ones who died and never made a profession of faith. And we may conclude they did not go to heaven. But we don't know that. Were you with these loved ones in the last moments of their lives? Were you there when they took their last breath? How do you know that he or she did not call on J

Here is what you do know. God loved them and wanted them to be saved. As 1 Timothy 2:4 says, God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

When Judas arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane to betray Jesus, Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" (Matthew 26:50). Jesus was giving Judas one last chance to repent. And I believe that if Judas had stopped right there and said, "Lord, I messed up. I don't know what I was thinking. Forgive me," then Jesus would have pardoned him. Why? Because God says, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!" (Ezekiel 33:11). Jesus loved Judas to the very end. He was His friend. But His friend betrayed Him, and this broke His hea

I don't want to give false assurance and suggest that everyone is in heaven, because they are not. But I am saying that if they called on the Lord in the last moments of their lives, He pardoned and forgave them.

God's Love Will Never End. No matter what you have done or who you are, God's love for you will never stop because His love doesn't depend on your actions. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassion never fail.

Jesus Chosen You

 John 15:16-17
 
 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.


We would like to think that we found God - but He actually chose us! Our ability to bear fruit doesn't come from our own will power, but from a heavenly intervention on our behalf. We are not our own - to ask based around our own agendas betrays the fact that we have been chosen and appointed. Chosen for what? Appointed for what? T oo lovene another. This begins the pilgrim's journey. This forms the asking. This becomes the great adventure of following Jesus.

I chose you: Jesus had initiated the relationship with His disciples, its started with the selection, move into servanthood, and grew into friendship, that you should go and bear fruit: Having chosen His disciples, Jesus commissioned them to bring forth permanent fruit through prayer.


“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:4-10)


Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, given thanks to His holy name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God well pleased. God has chosen us as His delight and purpose, do as Jesus commissioned us to abide in Him with conviction, through our prayer and worship and with complete servitude..


You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love eac...h other.


We would like to think that we found God - but He actually chose us! Our ability to bear fruit doesn't come from our own will power, but from a heavenly intervention on our behalf. We are not our own - to ask based around our own agendas betrays the fact that we have been chosen and appointed. Chosen for what? Appointed for what? T oo lovene another. This begins the pilgrim's journey. This forms the asking. This becomes the great adventure of following Jesus.

I chose you: Jesus had initiated the relationship with His disciples, its started with the selection, move into servanthood, and grew into friendship, that you should go and bear fruit: Having chosen His disciples, Jesus commissioned them to bring forth permanent fruit through prayer.


“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:4-10)


Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, given thanks to His holy name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God well pleased. God has chosen us as His delight and purpose, do as Jesus commissioned us to abide in Him with conviction, through our prayer and worship and with complete servitude..
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love eac...h other.

We would like to think that we found God - but He actually chose us! Our ability to bear fruit doesn't come from our own will power, but from a heavenly intervention on our behalf. We are not our own - to ask based around our own agendas betrays the fact that we have been chosen and appointed. Chosen for what? Appointed for what? T oo lovene another. This begins the pilgrim's journey. This forms the asking. This becomes the great adventure of following Jesus.

I chose you: Jesus had initiated the relationship with His disciples, its started with the selection, move into servanthood, and grew into friendship, that you should go and bear fruit: Having chosen His disciples, Jesus commissioned them to bring forth permanent fruit through prayer.


“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:4-10)


Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, given thanks to His holy name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God well pleased. God has chosen us as His delight and purpose, do as Jesus commissioned us to abide in Him with conviction, through our prayer and worship and with complete servitude..

There is Hope for the weeping and hurting heart

 John 11:1- 4

 Hope for those with an hurting heart in a ( Lost) world.

Have you ever felt lonely and vulnerable at a time of great need and Have you ever felt that life is hopeless? How about loosen a love ones prematurely? It truly hurts deeply to loose that parent or both, brother, sister, or a dear friend. You get my point. And the last thing you need is someone telling you to get over it. This bring us to the topic concerning Jesus weeping during the time of Lazarus and close friend of Jesus. Think of this what man can live without in a time element, here's four;
1. 40 days without food
2. 3 days without water
3. 8 minutes without air
4. 1 second without hope

The Death of Lazarus
1 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 2 (Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)s3 So the sisters sent a messaget to Jesus, “Lord, look, the one you love is sick.”4 When Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness will not lead to death,ts but to God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.) 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he remained in the place where he was for two more days.7 Then after this, he said to his disciples,

“Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples replied, “Rabbi, the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death! Are you going there again?”9 Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks around in the daytime, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks around at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After he said this, he added, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to awaken him.”12 Then the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 (Now Jesus had been talking about his death, but they thought he had been talking about real sleep.) 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe.s But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas (called Didymuss) said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, so that we may die with him.
Speaking with Martha and Mary

17 Whent Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already. 18 (Now Bethany was less than two milest from Jerusalem, 19 so many of the Jewish people of the region had come to Martha and Mary to console themt over the loss of their brother.) 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you. 23 Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” 24 Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life againt in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will livet even if he dies, 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? 27 She replied,


Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, ts the Son of God who comes into the world.” 28 And when she had said this, Marthat went and called her sister Mary, saying privately,t “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 29 So when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 (Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still in the place where Martha had come out to meet him.) 31 Then the peoplet who were with Maryt in the house consoling her saw hert get up quickly and go out. They followed her, because they thought she was going to the tomb to weept there.

32 Now when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the peoplet who had come with her weeping, he was intensely movedt in spirit and greatly distressed. 34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?”t They replied, “Lord, come and see.”35 Jesus wept. 36 Thus the people who had come to mourn said, “Look how much he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “This is the man who caused the blind man to see! Couldn’t he have done something to keep Lazarus from dying?”

Lazarus Raised from the Dead
38 Jesus, intensely movedt again, came to the tomb. (Now it was a cave, and a stone was placed across it.)s39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.”s40 Jesus responded,t “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?”41 So they took awayt the stone. Jesus looked upwardt and said, “Father, I thank you that you have listened to me.42 I knew that you always listen to me, but I said thist for the sake of the crowd standing around here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 Whent he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice,s “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth,s and a cloth wrapped around his face Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.”

Putting this in perspective for you; Mary who anointed but not yet! The anointing has not yet taken place (12:1-3) John wrote the anointing was well known, he used this event to distinguish this Mary from other Mary with the same name. Jesus weeping with sorrow because having death is the final result. By raising Lazarus from the died Jesus would demonstrate His deity in an undeniable way. By telling Lazarus to “Raise” this shown His power and glory.

Knew what it means to hurt. They also knew that faith in God’s Word is the victory that overcomes the severest trials that life can throw at us. From their experiences they reached out to others, to encourage them to trust God even when the unthinkable happens. There's time to mourn and time to rejoice. We need to keep thing In perspective Psalm 42:3-4. You are still work in progress because God is not through with us yet! So tell how do you measure Hope? Do you have Hope? Where do you put your hope into? Mine is truly in Jesus Christ!

God Never Gives Up

Luke 15:4

 

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?"

Psalm 23 is a classic passage that portrays us as sheep and God as our Shepherd:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. (verses 1–3)

Sheep are so dumb that sometimes they have to be forced to eat their food. If a shepherd doesn't guide them, they will stay in the same place, poking in the dirt, even after the grass is long gone. They also have to be led to water so they will drink.

This psalm goes on to say, "Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (verse 4). The shepherd has his rod and his staff, which he has to use with his wayward flock. The rod is a club, and the staff is a long, crooked instrument. When sheep go astray, their shepherd pulls them in with his staff. If a predator or a threat comes, he uses his rod to protect the flock. But sometimes he uses his rod on his sheep if he has to discipline them so they will not end up dead somewhere.

Even though God loves us and has our best interests in mind, sometimes we go astray. So what does God do in those circumstances? He looks for us.

In Luke 15, Jesus gives three pictures of how God searches for us. One is that of a shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep and goes looking for the one that went astray. He does not stop searching until he finds it. And that is something we need to remember about God. He will keep seeking. Despite our wandering, He never gives up on us./

The rabbi's believed that God would receive a sinner who came to Him the right way. But in the parable of the shepherd and the sheep, Jesus teaches that God actively seeks out the lost. God does not grudgingly receive the lost. Instead, He searches after them. God finds the sinner more than the sinner does find God.

This was a completely alien thought to Jesus’ audience of religious leaders. They believed they were more righteous than others were because they had diligently sought God and others had not. Likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance: There is joy in heaven when the lost are found and they come to repentance. Even though there may be no joy among the Pharisees, there is joy in heaven!

Good from Bad Times

Romans 8:28.    

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose

I can say from personal experience and from my years as a young pastor that life is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, joys and deep deep sorrows. But no matter what comes your way, know this: God is in control of your life and He has given His children a promise. It is Romans 8:28. - We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Trusting and believing God in the midst of bad circumstances.

 

We have faith that in all things, our God is enough. ... The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent”. ... I don't care how bad it seems right now, there is always hope if you will surrender.

 

Many times in life, God will work despite the bad things that have happened and bring good out of it. Ultimately, when we get to heaven, we will see the greater good that the Lord brought despite our suffering.

Be Encouraged By God's Word

Be Encourage by the Word

(Romans 10.17)

Paul said that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

You can depend on God to see you through what ever situation your facing. There's nothing to hard for the lord. You can depend on me to pray for you. Because you might be hurting, or crying and even frustrated.
 



Proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

I live by faith in God and His Word and expect things to turn out just like God promised me.  I realize if God has promised me something it is not going to be automatic for I have an enemy and this is a faith fight.  These things belong to me therefore I have courage to stay in faith to possess my inheritance.  I will not be a coward and cop out but will rather operate in God’s courage.  I will trust God till I see the victory.  I will finish this fight of faith even though through the process I might not understand everything, for God has assured me it is mine.  With faith, patience and expectation I walk this out to receive my promise.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Corinthians 3:18 There is a process at work in the life of every believer. We are being changed into his likeness, but it cannot happen overnight. Give God time to produce his ever-increasing glory in you.

Empowered By Grace

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

The thanksgiving Paul offers to God for the Corinthians seem odd, considering the many problems the church was experiencing. However, Paul focuses his praise not on the troubles Corinthians but on the eternally faithful God. Paul does not praise the Corinthians for their good works as he does for some other churches (see Eph 1:15) instead he praises God who works in them. When focus on the people's faults, hope soon wanes and discouragement follows. But when we concentrate on the Lord, even in our darkest hour it can be filled with praise. Through faith Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Grace come by re – transforming of the mind. Romans 12:2 said Do not be conformed to this world, but he transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Instead we mold our values of this world, the believer should be transformed, that is, changed by the renewing of the mind spiritually, this starts with the mind and heart. A mind dedicated to the world and its concerns will produce a life tossed back and forth by the current of culture. Be still a watch this. “ a mind dedicated to God's truth will produce a life that can stand the test of time.” We can resist temptations of our culture by meditating on God's truth (Word) and letting the Holy Spirit guide and shape our thoughts and behaviors.

The three principles that govern Gods grace.

 



1. Grace can never be earned – Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Grace and works are mutually exclusive God's election was established solely on the basis of grace.
2. Jesus Christ there is only one channel that grace can come through. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus. Throughout the NT grace is God's favor expressed by sinful humankind apart from any human works or worth. Through there was abundant grace and truth expressed by God through the law He gave Moses, it is in the person of Jesus Christ that grace and truth are realized to the fullest.
3. There is only one means we can appropriately or access grace Is through . Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can. Christian have been saved by grace. The grace of God is the source of salvation, faith is the channel, not the cause. God alone saves. Salvation never originates in the efforts of people;
   
   

Because of God's love Deuteronomy 7:7-9 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of 3bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments

God has concluded one thing from us – BELIEF. Saints thank you for being a faithful reader and God bless you and your families with God's love.

Dear Father God I take my place O' Lord with you heavenly and recognize by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under my feet. I declare, therefore, that Satan and his wicked spirits are subject to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the Armor You have provided. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace and the Helmet of Salvation. I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; and I take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I choose to use Your Word against all the forces of evil in my life. I put on this Armor and live and pray in complete dependence upon You, blessed Holy Spirit. I am grateful, Heavenly Father, that the Lord Jesus Christ spoiled all principalities and powers and made a show of them openly and triumphed over them in Himself. I claim all that victory for my life today. I reject all the insinuations, and accusations, and the temptations of Satan. I affirm that the Word of God is true and I choose to live today in the light of God's Word. I choose, Heavenly Father, to live in obedience to You and in fellowship with you Lord all the days of my life. Glory to God Amen!