Devotions - Prayer
Get your mind right,then you will overcome!!! (Ro. 12:2)
How Can I Have Eternal Life?
Each of us faces the same dilemma.
*We have a sin debt that we owe to God but no way to pay for it.
*None of our solutions – living a moral life, being religious, or doing more good deeds – can take care of our problem.
God Himself has provided the solution – one that both satisfies His justice and grants us mercy.
God sent His Son to pay the penalty we owed.
*Jesus was qualified to be our substitute because He never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21).
*Jesus willingly took our place on the cross and experienced the full measure of the Lord’s wrath against our sinfulness.
*In dying for us, Christ secured our salvation by paying the debt for all our past, present, and future sins.
When we trust in Jesus and surrender our life to Him, He becomes our personal Savior and Lord.
The great tragedy is that many have heard the gospel and rejected it.
*Some are like the rich ruler who placed his trust in material possessions and turned his back on the truth.
*Others have refused to even listen.
*Another group is convinced they are heaven-bound, based on erroneous confidence in their own good deeds.
Only those who have entered into a relationship with Jesus through faith in Him will be welcomed into heaven.
If you’re wondering, How can I have eternal life? there is only one answer: through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
We have an Enemy who actively seeks to blind people to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Pray that many who are separated from the Lord will trust in the Savior and gain everlasting life.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they KNOW you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
* Eternal life requires entering into a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. When we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ’s love lives in us by the Holy Spirit.
Put On the New Self
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above(Eternal Perspective), where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your MINDS on things that are ABOVE, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
We must do it out of love for Christ, not fear of hell.
Set our sights on things above, that is what we must do.
Look to Christ, while He may be found. Amen. (see Colossians 2:2-3)
Read More“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15
The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships.
Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the same.
A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt.
What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the grace of God covers the wrong.
When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown(Time does not heal all wounds!), it not only affects that person, but it also affects all others who are involved.
Root of bitterness is like a cancer (A root is a part of a tree that cannot be seen, and it will have small roots springing from it).
** Breaking Satan’s foothold requires at least one person to press into God’s grace.
*It cannot happen when either party “feels” like it, for none of us will ever feel like forgiving.
*None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt.
*Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party.
*You have to have a forgiving heart before you can be at peace with yourself.
1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?
It is only obedience that allows God’s grace to cover the wrongs incurred.
*This grace prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.
Even Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered. Hebrews 5:8.
The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you find yourself.
**Choose grace(Humility releases grace) instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.
Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Dear LORD, I choose to let the struggles of life make me better and not bitter. I forgive those who have hurt me, and refuse to hold a grudge. I will look for the good in every difficult situation and think the best of others. I know that a bitter heart produces bitter fruit, and I refuse to allow my heart to get caught in that trap. Now, Lord, help me accomplish what I have just confessed. In Jesus name, amen.
God deserves better than “part time love” from us.
We have to remember we face three enemies: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil. But we believers have Victory through Jesus!
Matthew 26:33 “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”
Just like Peter, we are often more confident of ourselves than God is.
Many Christians are devastated when they fail in some area that they thought they had long since grown past.
We need to realize that as long as we are in this mortal body, we cannot fall asleep at our battle station against the works of the flesh.
If we do, our flesh is just as capable of sin as anyone else’s.
If we fall, it should concern us but not surprise us. We should simply realize with Paul, that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing,” get back into the spirit through confession and forgiveness, and go on with Jesus.
The Lord has never had anyone who was qualified working for Him.
Peter wasn’t qualified, and even at our best, neither are we. If we realize that we are nothing and have nothing, then we are prime candidates to be used by God.
Peter went on to become probably the best known of the twelve apostles. The Lord used him mightily.
But He didn’t want him, or us, to forget that it was Christ in Peter and not Peter himself who was great.
This also illustrates the extent of our Father’s love and forgiveness.
If God not only forgave Peter for his sin, but also reinstated and advanced him, then surely we have not pushed God’s grace beyond its limit. Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more.
God doesn’t see us as a failure – just a learner.
God can redeem the worst “failure” and work it together for good (Rom 8:28). We need to think like God.
Refuse to get upset. Maintain peace, stay calm and have faith.
This is all about learning to trust the Lord in the midst of chaos.
Stay the course and see His handiwork.
Psalms 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Lord, as I pray the Lord’s prayer this day with meaning, fill me with your Spirit and renew my mind, heart and soul. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13)
Read MoreThe best defense against the devil is to be so God-centered that you give no place to Satan.
Sometimes is seems people who are very sensitive to the devil’s presence usually are so at the expense of being sensitive to the Lord’s presence.
David said, “If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Ps. 139:8).
*Anytime Satan’s oppression is present, God’s presence is there too (Heb. 13:5).
It’s just a matter of where our focus is.
***Focusing on the devil is a trick of the devil. Choose to focus on God.
The serpent didn’t come to Eve in the garden threatening to bite her if she didn’t eat of the forbidden fruit. Instead, he came with deception, presenting himself as being concerned for her welfare. Satan’s greatest weapon is deceit.
We were all guilty (Rom. 3:23) and condemned to death (Rom. 6:23), yet Jesus suffered our punishment so that we may go free (2 Cor. 5:21). Just as Barabbas didn’t ask for this substitution, so “God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
In the same way that Jesus died unto sin once, and death no longer has dominion over Him, the person who recognizes their death with Christ unto sin, will not allow sin to rule over him anymore.
Any Christian who is struggling with sin has not recognized that they are dead unto sin.
God paid a great price for it. Jesus paid with His blood.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
**We must preach the Word, not experiences.
*Experiences are only useful to illustrate that God’s Word is true.
Thank You Lord for Your Word, which is 100% absolute truth. Help me to live out Your Truths and Promises in Your Holy Spirit Written Word in Scriptures. “FREEDOM” Amen
Read MoreScripture touches all areas of our life, including this battle with how we use technology. Our Time!
In his letter to the Romans, Paul speaks about his own battle with sin.
*He expressed a frustration to which we can all relate, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15).
*We are all sinners. “There is no one righteous, not one” (Romans 3:10).
As long as we live in this world, we ALL will battle against our sinful nature. But Paul points us to the source of our help, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24–25).
Many of us may realize the pull that technology has on us and feel the weight of our guilt because of the wasted time each day.
But like Paul says, Jesus is our rescuer.
*Jesus came to redeem us from each and every sin, including the squandering away our time(busy-ness) on the iPhone, facebook etc etc. (See John 17:3)
*His perfect life has become ours.
*His sacrificial death paid our debt in full.
Every time we fail and stumble in this battle against sin, we need to return to the gospel over and over again to let the Holy Spirit speak to us. It is a Choice we have to make. Each time we put the Bible down it is our first step to backsliding in our sin.
**How else are we going to renew our mind if not by the Word of Scripture? Where else do we find Truth?
The cross stands there for us, not as a one-time source for forgiveness and assurance of eternal salvation, but also as a source of grace for each moment of our days.
And as we turn from our sin in repentance, we can respond in thanksgiving to our gracious God because though we are more sinful than we ever thought, we are also more loved and more forgiven than we will ever know.
You know it and I know it, there are more important things in our life than what our computers and phones and online platforms have to offer.
As we seek to redeem our time for eternity, we must rest in the grace of Christ and cling to this promise: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Lord Jesus, help me to Balance the time You have given me on earth to Glorify You and not myself. Thank You for Your perfect Grace to save a sinner as myself. Amen
Read MoreAll our Father wants, is that we trust Him with all aspects of our life. Put Him at the centre, not the sidelines or the reserve bench.
According to the Bible, unless we are pursuing our happiness we cannot even come to God:
* “for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
God blatantly entices us to seek happiness, joy, pleasure (whatever you want to call it) in Him with verses like this:
* “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4),
* “in his presence is fullness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
We’re supposed to want pleasure!!
*Why does God want us to want pleasure?
* Because it is a crucial indicator.
***Pleasure is the meter in your heart that measures how valuable, how precious someone or something is to you.
** Pleasure is the measure of your treasure.
*Your treasure is what you love.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart [what you love] will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Pleasure is the whistleblower of your heart.
More than anything else it exposes what you really love.
*If something sinful gives you pleasure, it’s not a pleasure problem. It’s a treasure problem!!!!!
Your pleasure mechanism is likely functioning just fine. It’s what you love that’s out of whack.
That’s what SIN is at the root— treasuring evil.
Which makes the fight of faith in the Christian life a fight for delight.
* It’s a fight to believe God’s promises of happiness over the false promises of happiness we hear from the world, our fallen flesh, and the devil.
And yes, it often involves denying ourselves pleasure, but only denying ourselves a lesser, viler pleasure in order to have a much higher pleasure (Luke 9:23-25).
(Matthew 22:37). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21)
Jesus Christ knew all about the human tendency to feel inadequate. That is why He assured His followers they would receive a Helper – the Holy Spirit – who would come to abide in them forever.
The Spirit enables, energizes, and equips believers to serve the Lord.
* One of the ways He aids us is by providing spiritual gifts, which are special capabilities given to believers.
The Lord has a plan for every believer. To ensure that we can meet the Lord’s expectations:
* He first builds natural talents into us.
At salvation, He adds a spiritual gift.
*Then God opens doors of opportunity and the Holy Spirit manifests His power so that we can carry out the work set before us.
I love you Lord and I just want my life to bring you glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Read MorePsalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”
The most powerful truths are revealed in the darkest times. In fact, pain intensifies our need for God and can be counted as a blessing.
God knows. God hears. God will breathe life into the right choices that we make.
How we respond to pits and pain is our choice.
- We can surrender to the darkness and create an identity that feels at home in a pit or we can embrace the pain and learn from it.
- We can settle for a life defined by pain or we can harness the power of our pain and use it for good.
- We can try to ignore the pain and hope it all goes away or we can face it and let God heal the broken places.
Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).
You’re never going to become a friend of God in your spare time. You have to make knowing God your number one priority in life. read John 17:3.
Are you doing that? Are you seeking God with all your heart every day?
Remember: You are as close to God as you choose to be. You’re going to become a friend of God when you want to become a friend of God.
You can’t blame anybody else. You can’t blame your wife, your husband, your parents, or your kids. You are as close to God as you want to be. And if you feel far from God, guess who moved?
You didn’t make him the number one priority of your life.
Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege. And being known and being loved by God is our greatest pleasure.
I’ve noticed that you can tell what’s important to people by what they brag about.
- If their kids are most important, they brag about their kids.
- If their job is the most important thing in their life, they brag about their job.
- If travel and having experiences is most important, that’s what they talk about.
- If partying or buying new clothes is what you talk about most, guess what you value most?
- If playing videos is what you spend time on, guess what you value most?
- If talking about hobbies or sports all the time, guess what you value most?
- You brag about what you value most. see Jeremiah 9:23,
Why? Because that’s what life is all about. Knowing God is what matters most.
The God of the Universe loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. God shows no favoritism! Rom. 2:11.
Getting close to God will give you peace and perspective. Now that’s Good News! Amen
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“So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!'” (Job 2:7-9).
One message I get from the book of Job is: Do not give up on God because of suffering or bad experiences.”
Our age of “INSTANT” everything has caused us to lose the ability to wait. We expect to learn patience instantly, and in our hurry, we miss out on the real blessing of it. What do we want now?- relief from pain is at the top of our list. We want an instant cure for everything from toothaches to heartbreaks.
When God finally spoke to Job, he didn’t offer Job an answer. Instead, he drove home the point that it is better to KNOW GOD than to know answers(see also John 17:3).
Sometimes suffering is an attack by Satan on our lives. Sometimes we do not know why the suffering but need to know, that the suffering may be shaping us for special service to others.
When hope is deferred, the psalmist says, the heart becomes sick. During these seasons, we can only do one thing. We must hang onto whatever faith we have to get through each day and entrust our lives to Him. (Hab 3:17-18).
When faith doesn’t see results it challenges what we believe. We must pray as Job prayed: “Teach me what I cannot see” (Job 34:32). God says there is a purpose in everything we go through(Ro. 8:28). God is always bigger than Satan’s afflictions. See 1 John 4:4-We fight FROM Victory if we have Jesus!
Our greatest tests come when we cannot see positive results from our faith and obedience. In such cases we must die to our expectations and entrust them to our Lord.
But Job is an example for us of how we must break through our natural view of life so that we begin to see things in a different light. This book is here to teach us that God sometimes has to translate theology into painful experience before we really begin to grasp what He is trying to say to us.
Father, thank You that You have sent Your Son, who has endured more suffering than I. Grant me the strength to endure whatever You allow into my life, that I may bring Glory to You. Amen
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Instead of hanging out in an imaginary place where I could avoid conflict and hurt, I embraced real life, with real people and real struggles.
Although it took much time and work to process hard situations, with each one I grew.
* It involved loving the people around me, enjoying each new day, and releasing hurtful events and people from the past.
Our Heavenly Father knows when we struggle with our thoughts and emotions and feelings. They can be a place where we work through issues with wisdom and care, or a playground where bitterness sprouts and anger is fed.
Is He taking you by the hand, like He did me the last few months? If so, I celebrate with you. For He’s leading you into growth. It is still a personal daily commitment I need to make and ask the Holy Spirit to lead! It is not EASY!
My prayer is that you’ll swing high in day-to-day joys of real life as a strong person of faith.
Hebrews 10:19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
Don’t let the truth slip away from you! Stay awake and alert. You have an open door into God’s holy presence, so go into Him with full assurance of faith, making your petitions known.
Christ’s blood has already made the way for you and nothing stands between you and the Father. You have every right to enter into the holy of holies, to receive all the help you need!
Make a special effort to stay present with the Lord. Resist the temptation to dwell on the past, and deliberately let go of all failures and regrets. Walk with Jesus here and now even though your tendency will also be to race ahead and try to see what the future holds. There are things that you need to see and deal with right here where you are now. Let Jesus show you and give you wisdom.
Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
Dear Jesus,Today I shut the gate to the playground of unhealthy thoughts, with Your help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read MorePsalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Poor Wisdom Rots!
Proverbs 28: 2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.
*This reminds me of where we are at as a nation now. We have people in our country that believe morals are negotiable and that’s simply not true.
***We need to stand by the Biblical principles we have been given by God. “His Truth”
Corrupt and selfish leaders within a government will eventually contaminate the whole group leading to “moral rot.”
But the same goes for wise and knowledgeable leaders, they can encourage and build up the whole group leading to “moral growth.“
We as Christians need to pray for our government, both nationally and locally.
One or two with a group can contaminate the whole team.
*If their concerns are selfish and all they care about is themselves and what they think their entitled to, this eventually spoils the whole batch causing moral rot.
It eventually affects all down to supervisors and them to employees.
And then attitudes become selfish with entitlement to perks instead of realizing they are public servants and their job is to serve.
*Moral is down, people can’t get along with each other and things don’t get done.
**But on the other hand, wise and knowledgeable leaders can bring moral growth to government. The saying “IN GOD WE TRUST ” can bring stability to a government.
*When you have wise and knowledgeable leaders, their concerns are not selfish.
*They care about the people they serve and they take pride in their job.
*They build up their government team increasing moral within work groups and developing positive attitudes.
Just like before, this affects all down to supervisors and then to workers causing an increase in work and taking pride in their job.
So pray for you government and ask God to place good Christian people with our system.
We need to get back on track to the saying “IN GOD WE TRUST “ and allow God to work.
Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
“Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
Thank you for hearing our prayers. Thank You for Moral Growth and for the way it’s changed my life. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.
The phrase “forgive and forget” is not found in the Bible. However, there are numerous verses commanding us to “forgive one another” (e.g., Matthew 6:14 and Ephesians 4:32). A Christian who is not willing to forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered (Matthew 6:15) and can reap bitterness and the loss of reward (Hebrews 12:14–15; 2 John 1:8).
Forgiveness is a decision of the will. Since God commands us to forgive, we must make a conscious choice to obey God and forgive. The offender may not desire forgiveness and may not ever change, but that doesn’t negate God’s desire that we possess a forgiving spirit (Matthew 5:44). Ideally, the offender will seek reconciliation, but, if not, the one wronged can still make a decision to forgive.
You’ve heard this phrase over and over: “Forgive and forget.” There’s only one problem with it: You can’t do it. It’s impossible! You really can’t forget a hurt in your life. In fact, you can’t even try to forget it. Because when you’re trying to forget, you are actually focusing on the very thing you want to forget.
Forgetting is not what God wants you to do. Instead, he wants you to trust him and see how he can bring good out of it. That’s more important than forgetting, because then you can thank God for the good that he brought out of it. You can’t thank God for things you forget.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” .
It doesn’t say that all things are good, because all things are not good. Cancer is not good. Disease is not good. Death is not good. Divorce is not good. War is not good. Rape and abuse are not good. There are a lot of things in life that are evil. Not everything that happens in this world is God’s will.
But God says he will work good out of the bad things in life if you will trust him.
When you come to him and say, “God, I give you all the pieces of my life,” he will return peace for your pieces. He gives you peace in your heart that comes from knowing that even if you don’t understand the hurt in your life, you can still forgive, knowing that God will use that pain for good.
The ideal is to forgive and forget. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) and covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). However, changing hearts is God’s business, and, until an offender has a true, supernatural heart change, it is only wise to limit the level of trust one places in that person.
Being cautious doesn’t mean we haven’t forgiven. It simply means we are not God and we cannot see that person’s heart.
Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. Amen
Read More“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and prayfor one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:24-25).
What Jesus is saying is, “The great hindrance to having faith in God is pride, the pride that refuses to forgive (an inflated sense of one’s personal status or accomplishments).
*You have the power to have that removed if, when you stand and pray, you will forgive those who have offended you.” Because the only thing that stops us from forgiving one another is pride.
We feel justified in wanting others to forgive us but also in feeling that we have to exact a price for the hurt they have caused us. So, in many ways—subtle, or direct and open—we insist that we will not forgive, that our offenders have to pay for what they have done to us. Somehow, we are going to make them crawl, make them beg or plead for forgiveness.
“And that,” Jesus says, “is a great mountain that needs to be removed, for it is blocking the flow of the life of God to your faith.” So when you stand and pray, life will flow from God when you are able to recognize that you, too, need forgiveness. God has forgiven you. God has offered it freely to you; give it just as freely to the one who has offended you.
The one thing above all else that seems to block the flow of the life of God to an individual, to a church, or to a nation, is:
- this unwillingness to forgive, this holding of grudges,
- this desire to put somebody down in order to feel good yourself,
- this unwillingness to set these things aside and let God heal all the hurts of life.
The Lord brings us through a time of testing and adjustments. There are corrections to be made to our path of life, and those corrections will begin to bear fruit as soon as we let go of the things that have been a distraction and a hindrance to our progression.You will now be able to see with greater clarity and understanding, as you walk in the Spirit.
Proverbs 10:17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.
Father, how many times I have refused the forgiving word, the restoring act, only to be tormented by fears and anxieties and worries. Thank You for the forgiveness that is mine in Jesus Christ. Teach me to extend it to those around me. Take my pride from me! Amen
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Paul wrote [1 Corinthians 1:10–17] in a letter to the divided body of Corinthian believers.
*The church was allowing a disagreement to hinder their fellowship. Paul knew the steep danger of dissension among believers.
Scripture is clear about the church’s mission.
Some of its highest goals include;
• Sharing the gospel with all nations
• Caring for those in need
• Worshiping together, along with loving, encouraging, and admonishing one another in God’s truth.
None of these is fully possible if a church is divided, whether physically or mentally.
God wants His people to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, NIV).
So if all Christians base their beliefs on the Bible, they should be able to settle every argument according to its truth, right?
Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Our human nature, preferences, and different interpretations of Scripture can cause disagreements.
Consider, for example, how many churches have experienced strife over music styles.
Tragically, when differences are divisive, our mission becomes blurred and we are ineffective. Just as fishermen cannot catch fish with a broken net, we are unable to effectively share Jesus with the world when our fellowship is not intact….
Are your actions and words strengthening your fellow Christians?
*Or do you gossip, express negativity, and push your own preferences and opinions?
God never meant for his children to become separated, and when we allow issues like denominations or political leanings to cause strife between us, the message of the Cross becomes obscured.
- We were meant to be one body, one family, unified, as brothers and sisters.
- In his infinite grace, Christ called us to be Christians.
Be careful. God has mandated that our conduct positively impact the church’s unity. This is essential if we are to accomplish His purpose.
What you say is a direct reflection of your heart, and your speech reveals whether or not you walk in the Spirit or in the flesh.
Pay attention to the words of your mouth, and deal with the issues within yourself that cause a negative overflow.
*The Lord has called you to righteousness, faith, and peace.
*When you walk in unity with the Lord, the fruit will be evident.
Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips
Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount never blessed a material thing! The richer we get in the church, the poorer we get in the spirit.
Lord I pray for all to KNOW You more and also to understand the Mystery which is Jesus, Himself. Here is where all the Wisdom and Knowledge lie. Amen (taken from Col. 2:2)
Read MoreMatthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
As we in Mark 16:15, Jesus Christ commissioned His Church to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God in all the world.
Here in Matthew 24:14 Jesus gives a prophecy of the effects of that preaching in the end time just before His return to save humanity from self-destruction (Matthew 24:21-22).
“A witness” here can mean “testimony” or “a declaration of facts”. The word is neutral—it can include both giving a message of hope and a message of warning. “The Gospel will bring either salvation or a curse, depending on how it is received” ( Matthew 24:14).
The “end” Jesus referred to is the end of this evil age of human misrule. When it ends, something much better will come in its place—the peaceful Kingdom of God.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. (Romans 13:12)
- This is a word of hope to suffering Christians.
- It’s a word of hope to Christians who hate their own sin and long to be done with sinning.
- It’s a word of hope to Christians who long for the last enemy death to be overcome and thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).
How is it a word of hope for all these?
“The night” stands for this age of darkness and all its sin and misery and death. And what does Paul say about it? “The night is far gone.” The age of sin and misery and death is almost spent.
The key way it is different is that the day has dawned in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the end of this fallen age. He defeated sin and pain and death and Satan. The decisive battle is over. The kingdom has come. Eternal life has come. Amen
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Our self-life will never “mellow” with age. We can’t tame it…we have to crucify it.
* “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”. Galatians 6:14
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)
Shadows are created all around us when something blocks light, and so it is with the shadow of doubt.
When we focus our thoughts on ourselves and how inadequate we feel, or what others think about us and how we’re performing, we cast a shadow of doubt in our minds by blocking the light of God’s Truth in our hearts.
But we were not designed to block the light.
We were created to live in the Light by focusing on what God thinks about us instead of what we think about ourselves.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12b )
When we follow Jesus closely and completely in our thoughts, turning away from doubts and lies, we can find lasting security and confidence in Him.
- I have to purposefully shift my focus daily-from my feelings of inadequacy to God’s promises of His all-sufficiency and grace in my life.
- I have to choose to focus on truth {the Light} so I can exchange my feelings of low self-confidence with lasting “God-fidence.”
Feeling paralyzed and stuck in a place of insecurity is not where God intends for us to live.
When Jesus spoke to the people in John 8:12, He called them out of darkness.
Now He’s calling you and me – to step out of the shadows of doubt so that we can become the God-fident people He created you to be.
A person whose assurance and soul-security is found in what He says and thinks about them.
When you feel inadequate, God says: You are CHOSEN.
“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.'” (Isa. 43:10a NIV)
When you feel unworthy, God says: You are PRECIOUS and LOVED. “… you are precious and honored in my sight, and … I love you.” (Isa. 43:4a NIV)
Dear Lord, You say I am a chosen person, a royal priest, a holy person, a Masterpiece belonging to You. Help me believe that and live beyond the shadows of my doubts as I follow and focus on the Light of Your truth today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen