2 Timothy 2:24 "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,"
As leaders we need to lead others by example. Each and every person on this planet is a leader. Everyone is being watched by someone, and therefore influencing them
"Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian." - D.L. Moody
We need to constantly have our light shining. You never know when someone's watching you, so why risk it?
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven"
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Rejoice Always
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
The keyword in this sentence is always.Unless there's some other version of the word that means 'Only when you feel like it', that means every moment of every day of our lives. No wiggle room. If we're spending our time being worried, depressed, angry, etc., we're not always rejoicing. When Paul wrote this, he wasn't sitting comfortably in some fancy house. He was in prison, tied to a guard, knowing any day he could have is head cut off. If Paul can rejoice in that, we can rejoice when our car breaks down, or things don't go as we planned, or some other small thing happens.
The beginning of Philippians 4:6 reads "Be anxious for nothing..."
We have NOTHING to be worried about:
Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble."
We can't be worrying about all these small problems. They are minor and insignificant to God! If we're faithful to him, he'll take care of us, even when things look bad. We just have to keep rejoicing, always!
So how do we keep ourselves rejoicing instead of looking at the negative side?
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things"
We need to always keep our mind focused on good, pure things, and we'll keep rejoicing. If we're thinking negative thoughts, we'll be in a negative mood.
The keyword in this sentence is always.Unless there's some other version of the word that means 'Only when you feel like it', that means every moment of every day of our lives. No wiggle room. If we're spending our time being worried, depressed, angry, etc., we're not always rejoicing. When Paul wrote this, he wasn't sitting comfortably in some fancy house. He was in prison, tied to a guard, knowing any day he could have is head cut off. If Paul can rejoice in that, we can rejoice when our car breaks down, or things don't go as we planned, or some other small thing happens.
The beginning of Philippians 4:6 reads "Be anxious for nothing..."
We have NOTHING to be worried about:
Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble."
We can't be worrying about all these small problems. They are minor and insignificant to God! If we're faithful to him, he'll take care of us, even when things look bad. We just have to keep rejoicing, always!
So how do we keep ourselves rejoicing instead of looking at the negative side?
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things"
We need to always keep our mind focused on good, pure things, and we'll keep rejoicing. If we're thinking negative thoughts, we'll be in a negative mood.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Born Again
2: Timothy 2: 20 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor"
Everyone's born with both good and evil inside of us. We all have a desire to do good deeds, a hunger for Chritst, and a desire for His love, whether we realize it or not. When people have a desire for a loving relationship with someone, or to be accepted, or to be approved of, a desire to be entertained, all those things are desires for God in disguise, because He's the only one who can truly fufill all those desires. We also have a desire to do evil. We have a desire to steal, to cause hurt to others, we have sin, we fall to countless temptations, we have the want to fit in. The term "I was born this way" is true. We're all born with sin. That's why when we're saved by Christ, we're born again
2:Timothy 2:21 "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
When we're born again, we're born without any of the evil things I mentioned previously, and we're born with only the things pleasing to God. The devil no longer has any power over you. He can still tempt and attack you, and he will, and on your own you would have fallen to it, but through Christ you have the power to put Satan in his place (Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.").
Everyone's born with both good and evil inside of us. We all have a desire to do good deeds, a hunger for Chritst, and a desire for His love, whether we realize it or not. When people have a desire for a loving relationship with someone, or to be accepted, or to be approved of, a desire to be entertained, all those things are desires for God in disguise, because He's the only one who can truly fufill all those desires. We also have a desire to do evil. We have a desire to steal, to cause hurt to others, we have sin, we fall to countless temptations, we have the want to fit in. The term "I was born this way" is true. We're all born with sin. That's why when we're saved by Christ, we're born again
2:Timothy 2:21 "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
When we're born again, we're born without any of the evil things I mentioned previously, and we're born with only the things pleasing to God. The devil no longer has any power over you. He can still tempt and attack you, and he will, and on your own you would have fallen to it, but through Christ you have the power to put Satan in his place (Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.").
Monday, June 25, 2012
To He Who Overcomes
As I was reading Revelation 1-3, I noticed that Jesus repeatedly tells us things, almost rewards, for those who overcome sin, temptation, persecution, etc., and so, here they are...
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which on one knows except him who receives it." '
Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-
as I also have received from my Father;
28 "and I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more, I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him my new name.
Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which on one knows except him who receives it." '
Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-
as I also have received from my Father;
28 "and I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more, I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him my new name.
Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Facing Man's Persecution
Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
In other words, Jesus is saying if we want to follow him we have to take up his cross every day. Now, I don't think he meant that literally. Jesus was insulted, mocked, and physically beaten when he was crucified. Jesus is saying that if we want to follow him, we will be insulted, we will be mocked, we may even be physically beaten, tortured, or killed. This brings me to
2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Whatever man may due to us here on Earth, while it may not seem like it at the moment, will be light and momentary compared to the eternal joy and glory which we will receive when we arrive at heaven! This leads right in to my favorite scripture in the Bible
Revelation 3:21"'To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
One thing I noticed as I read both Luke 9:23 and Revelation 3:21, is Jesus isn't asking us to do anything he hasn't already done! H'es already taken up his cross, and has already overcome! If Jesus did these things, then we can too! He told us we can!
John 14:12 "'Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Think about it! All that Jesus did, He did in only three years! Imagine how much more we could do with all the time we have if only we weren't afraid of man!
In other words, Jesus is saying if we want to follow him we have to take up his cross every day. Now, I don't think he meant that literally. Jesus was insulted, mocked, and physically beaten when he was crucified. Jesus is saying that if we want to follow him, we will be insulted, we will be mocked, we may even be physically beaten, tortured, or killed. This brings me to
2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Whatever man may due to us here on Earth, while it may not seem like it at the moment, will be light and momentary compared to the eternal joy and glory which we will receive when we arrive at heaven! This leads right in to my favorite scripture in the Bible
Revelation 3:21"'To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
One thing I noticed as I read both Luke 9:23 and Revelation 3:21, is Jesus isn't asking us to do anything he hasn't already done! H'es already taken up his cross, and has already overcome! If Jesus did these things, then we can too! He told us we can!
John 14:12 "'Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Think about it! All that Jesus did, He did in only three years! Imagine how much more we could do with all the time we have if only we weren't afraid of man!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Dedication to God
In Chapter one of Ruth, Naomi is married to Elimelech and has two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. These sons were married to Orpah and Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4). Eventually, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion died. Naomi brought the two girls with her to Judah, and told them to return to their old houses, before they had married. In short, Orpah returned, while Ruth refused to leave (Ruth 1:7-18).
God is looking for the Ruths, those who will not leave him, even when tough times come! In verses 11-13, Naomi even tries to convince them to return, giving them reasons to not stay! Ruth still refuses to leave!
God wants those who are devoted, as Ruth was! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what you've been through or are going through! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what anybody says to you, you will never give up on Him! In verse 17, Ruth even declares that nothing but death will separate her from Naomi's side! If Ruth was that devoted to Naomi, a human being, with no blood relation, who tried to convince her to leave, then how much more should we be devoted to God, our Creator, our Father, who always loves us, and wants us at his side during the hard times?
God is looking for the Ruths, those who will not leave him, even when tough times come! In verses 11-13, Naomi even tries to convince them to return, giving them reasons to not stay! Ruth still refuses to leave!
God wants those who are devoted, as Ruth was! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what you've been through or are going through! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what anybody says to you, you will never give up on Him! In verse 17, Ruth even declares that nothing but death will separate her from Naomi's side! If Ruth was that devoted to Naomi, a human being, with no blood relation, who tried to convince her to leave, then how much more should we be devoted to God, our Creator, our Father, who always loves us, and wants us at his side during the hard times?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Descent of the Spirit
So this weekend I was at the Spring Retreat Week 3 on The Promised Land, and during Friday Night Worship, God showed me a vision. I saw a giant dove, with it's wings stretched, almost touching the sides of the building (For those of you who have not been there, it's a very large building), and the dove was descending, onto the crowd of people in the building, flapping it's wings as it came in for the landing.
Immediatley afterwards, I remembered the time when Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit descends on him like in the form of a dove. I believe God was trying to say he's sending the spirit into His people. Will you accept Him, or let him keep flying and pass you up?
Immediatley afterwards, I remembered the time when Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit descends on him like in the form of a dove. I believe God was trying to say he's sending the spirit into His people. Will you accept Him, or let him keep flying and pass you up?
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Knowledge of Jesus Vs. Sin
Romans 10:2 "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."
Zeal - Intensity, Passion
They had a passion for God, but they didn't really know God.
2 Peter 3:17-18 reads "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."
This basically lays out your only two options. You can either fall into sin, or get to know Jesus, and if you're in sin, you cannot know Jesus.
John 14:21 ""He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to Him.""
In order to love Jesus you have to know Him! and it says here that those who keep his commandments, and don't sin, love him, and therefore know him! You can either know Jesus or know sin! Your choice!
Manifest - to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly
John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes through the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known my father also; and from now on you know him and have seen him""
The only way we can get to know God is to know Jesus. We get to know Jesus through prayer and by reading his word. You can get to know someone by hearing what they say, and so if we study God's word, which is what he says, then we can get to know him! God will give you new revelations of who he is each time you read the word, allowing you to know him and grow closer to him! The great thing about God is that no matter how much you already know him, there's always more to know!
Zeal - Intensity, Passion
They had a passion for God, but they didn't really know God.
2 Peter 3:17-18 reads "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."
This basically lays out your only two options. You can either fall into sin, or get to know Jesus, and if you're in sin, you cannot know Jesus.
John 14:21 ""He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to Him.""
In order to love Jesus you have to know Him! and it says here that those who keep his commandments, and don't sin, love him, and therefore know him! You can either know Jesus or know sin! Your choice!
Manifest - to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly
Jesus wants to show Himself to us, but first we have to purify ourselves of sin! If we keep out of sin and spend time with Jesus, He will reveal Himself to us!
John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes through the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known my father also; and from now on you know him and have seen him""
The only way we can get to know God is to know Jesus. We get to know Jesus through prayer and by reading his word. You can get to know someone by hearing what they say, and so if we study God's word, which is what he says, then we can get to know him! God will give you new revelations of who he is each time you read the word, allowing you to know him and grow closer to him! The great thing about God is that no matter how much you already know him, there's always more to know!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Out of the tomb
Every promise in the Bible is our inheritance! If you can find someone else he did it for, he'll do it for you!
Matthew 27:62 -66 "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate 63 Saying "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After thee days I will rise.' 64 "Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead' so the last deception will be worse than the first" 65 Pilate said to them "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard."
The same spirit that tried to keep Jesus om the tomb now is trying to keep our minds in the tomb today!
The devil does not want him - or our minds - to resurrect!
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is"
Our goal is to be like he was, but it should be to be like he is!
He became sickness! He became sin! We shouldn't try to be like that!
He is risen! He is victorious! That's what we need to be like!
We shouldn't live on the cross, we need to use it to bring us to God! The cross is the door to bring us to our resurrected life! It's not the end, it's the beginning!
Just as Jesus was not found in the tomb, neither shall we be! We live on the victory side of the cross!
Jesus dies so we wouldn't have to! Not only did He already pay our debt, but He turned around and gave us a rich inheritance!
Is Jesus still suffering right now? No! We shouldn't be either!
Matthew 28:1 "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb"
Dawn - A time of illumination
Tomb - A place of rememberance
The only thing they had to remember back then was Jesus locked up in the tomb!
Jesus is not in the tomb! So why do we still go in there to see him?
We tend to focus on the dead Jesus because it takes no faith! Resurrection takes faith!
Our spirit is in Heaven, but our minds need to catch up!
Our mind is a gateway. It'll either lead you to the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Darkness
Many people live a defeated life because the only know the tomb, the place of death!
Nobody wants death, they want life! Nobody wants dead church, they want alive church!
John was the closest to Jesus. Not because He loved John more, Jesus is no respecter of persons! it's because John had revelation of Jesus' love for him!
The four gospels all depict Jesus saying different things as he hang on the cross. He said all of them, but each disciple wrote what stood out to them.
Matthew and Mark wrote him saying "My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
Luke wrote him saying "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
John (Who was closest to Jesus) wrote him saying "It is finished" (John 19:30)
The worth or value of something is only as much as someone will pay for it
Jesus paid his life for you! That's how much you're worth to him! He didn't buy you just to watch you be defeated! He bought you to see you victorious! Jesus paid the ultimate price for you to have victory in all areas of your life
When some read the Bible, the hear "You can't, you can't, you can't, you can't, you can't, die, die, die, die, die!"
Jesus doesn't require for you to die, he requires for you to live!
Matthew 27:62 -66 "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate 63 Saying "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After thee days I will rise.' 64 "Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead' so the last deception will be worse than the first" 65 Pilate said to them "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard."
The same spirit that tried to keep Jesus om the tomb now is trying to keep our minds in the tomb today!
The devil does not want him - or our minds - to resurrect!
1 John 3:2 "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is"
Our goal is to be like he was, but it should be to be like he is!
He became sickness! He became sin! We shouldn't try to be like that!
He is risen! He is victorious! That's what we need to be like!
We shouldn't live on the cross, we need to use it to bring us to God! The cross is the door to bring us to our resurrected life! It's not the end, it's the beginning!
Just as Jesus was not found in the tomb, neither shall we be! We live on the victory side of the cross!
Jesus dies so we wouldn't have to! Not only did He already pay our debt, but He turned around and gave us a rich inheritance!
Is Jesus still suffering right now? No! We shouldn't be either!
Matthew 28:1 "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb"
Dawn - A time of illumination
Tomb - A place of rememberance
The only thing they had to remember back then was Jesus locked up in the tomb!
Jesus is not in the tomb! So why do we still go in there to see him?
We tend to focus on the dead Jesus because it takes no faith! Resurrection takes faith!
Our spirit is in Heaven, but our minds need to catch up!
Our mind is a gateway. It'll either lead you to the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Darkness
Many people live a defeated life because the only know the tomb, the place of death!
Nobody wants death, they want life! Nobody wants dead church, they want alive church!
John was the closest to Jesus. Not because He loved John more, Jesus is no respecter of persons! it's because John had revelation of Jesus' love for him!
The four gospels all depict Jesus saying different things as he hang on the cross. He said all of them, but each disciple wrote what stood out to them.
Matthew and Mark wrote him saying "My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
Luke wrote him saying "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)
John (Who was closest to Jesus) wrote him saying "It is finished" (John 19:30)
The worth or value of something is only as much as someone will pay for it
Jesus paid his life for you! That's how much you're worth to him! He didn't buy you just to watch you be defeated! He bought you to see you victorious! Jesus paid the ultimate price for you to have victory in all areas of your life
When some read the Bible, the hear "You can't, you can't, you can't, you can't, you can't, die, die, die, die, die!"
Jesus doesn't require for you to die, he requires for you to live!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
We Have Potential in God's Will
Stop resisting your potential!
Without Jesus Christ in your life, you have limited potential. Jesus had potential, so if we have him in us, we have all of his potential as well!
Stop limiting your own potential. Saying "Oh, I can't do that!" is limiting your potential!
Doubt is your worst enemy!
God sees your potential and wants you to reach it!
Luke 9:1 "Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases"
Jesus gave them the ability to do what He asked them to do! He's not going to ask you to do something you can't do!
9:4-5 ""Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart 5 "and whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.""
Not everybody will accept you, but it doesn't matter what other people say or think
Don't let anyone intimidate you!
God has called you for a specific purpose! If God's called us to do something, our potential is limitless! But if we try to do something outside of God's will, our potential is limited!
We have limits in what we do, but not in how well we do it!
If He's called you, He will equip you!
If you do it on your own you will fail. If you don't do it at all, you have already failed.
God will sometimes place others around you to strengthen you and help you reach your potential!
9:16 "Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the mutlitude"
Notice how Jesus kept giving them more! Jesus won't give you everything at once, you have to keep coming back for more
If you say "I can't" You've already given up and failed. If you give up, you let the devil win
When we doubt, we take it out of God's hands!
It's not easy to walk out your potential
Without Jesus Christ in your life, you have limited potential. Jesus had potential, so if we have him in us, we have all of his potential as well!
Stop limiting your own potential. Saying "Oh, I can't do that!" is limiting your potential!
Doubt is your worst enemy!
God sees your potential and wants you to reach it!
Luke 9:1 "Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases"
Jesus gave them the ability to do what He asked them to do! He's not going to ask you to do something you can't do!
9:4-5 ""Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart 5 "and whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.""
Not everybody will accept you, but it doesn't matter what other people say or think
Don't let anyone intimidate you!
God has called you for a specific purpose! If God's called us to do something, our potential is limitless! But if we try to do something outside of God's will, our potential is limited!
We have limits in what we do, but not in how well we do it!
If He's called you, He will equip you!
If you do it on your own you will fail. If you don't do it at all, you have already failed.
God will sometimes place others around you to strengthen you and help you reach your potential!
9:16 "Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the mutlitude"
Notice how Jesus kept giving them more! Jesus won't give you everything at once, you have to keep coming back for more
If you say "I can't" You've already given up and failed. If you give up, you let the devil win
When we doubt, we take it out of God's hands!
It's not easy to walk out your potential
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Everything will be shaken
One of the best things about God is that no matter how much you get to know him, and how much time you spend in his word, there's always more!
God is going to rekindle the fire (That's not as good as it sounds)
When He rekindles the fire, everything that can be shaken, will be shaken, so that the only thing that remains will be him!
The first thing we have to remember is it's not about us
2 Corinthians 4:5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake"
If we're going to preach Jesus, everything else needs to be shaken out!
4:6 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"
When God shines in our hearts, any darkness we have in there has to leave. light and darkness can't occupy the same place
4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us"
We can't do it on our own, God has to do it through us
There's a whole world of darkness that needs his light
4:8-9 "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed"
When we're in Jesus, we can't be defeated. But, if we step away from God, these promises are not valid
Think of him as an umbrella, as long as we're under him, the storm can't reach us. but, if we step out from underneath him, we will get wet.
4:10-11 "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh"
We're supposed to die daily like Jesus did
Jesus suffered a lot! Why are we surprised when we suffer just a little bit?
If you don't pull a weed out at the root, it will be back again the next week
4:15 "For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God"
This is for your sake!
If you want to show his glory, the other stuff needs to be shaken out; it needs to be pulled out by the root!
4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."
Out part: don't become discouraged
We need to pray to be renewed daily
You can't do it on your own
But you can do all things through Christ
God's going to use the willing vessel
we need to be willing to go through the shaking so that he can use us!
4:17 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Our suffering is but a moment compared to the eternal joy that we will have!
Hebrews 12:26-29 "whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven" 27 Now this, "Yet once more" indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 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 29 For our God is a consuming fire"
He is a consuming fire that's going to burn up everything that's not of him!
We need to be unrecognizable to the people, because they won't see us, they'll see Christ through us!
There will be people watching, would you rather them see you fail or Jesus succeed?
If people see you defeated, they won't want what you have, but if they see you victorious, they'll want what you have!
God is going to rekindle the fire (That's not as good as it sounds)
When He rekindles the fire, everything that can be shaken, will be shaken, so that the only thing that remains will be him!
The first thing we have to remember is it's not about us
2 Corinthians 4:5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake"
If we're going to preach Jesus, everything else needs to be shaken out!
4:6 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ"
When God shines in our hearts, any darkness we have in there has to leave. light and darkness can't occupy the same place
4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us"
We can't do it on our own, God has to do it through us
There's a whole world of darkness that needs his light
4:8-9 "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed"
When we're in Jesus, we can't be defeated. But, if we step away from God, these promises are not valid
Think of him as an umbrella, as long as we're under him, the storm can't reach us. but, if we step out from underneath him, we will get wet.
4:10-11 "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh"
We're supposed to die daily like Jesus did
Jesus suffered a lot! Why are we surprised when we suffer just a little bit?
If you don't pull a weed out at the root, it will be back again the next week
4:15 "For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God"
This is for your sake!
If you want to show his glory, the other stuff needs to be shaken out; it needs to be pulled out by the root!
4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."
Out part: don't become discouraged
We need to pray to be renewed daily
You can't do it on your own
But you can do all things through Christ
God's going to use the willing vessel
we need to be willing to go through the shaking so that he can use us!
4:17 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Our suffering is but a moment compared to the eternal joy that we will have!
Hebrews 12:26-29 "whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven" 27 Now this, "Yet once more" indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 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 29 For our God is a consuming fire"
He is a consuming fire that's going to burn up everything that's not of him!
We need to be unrecognizable to the people, because they won't see us, they'll see Christ through us!
There will be people watching, would you rather them see you fail or Jesus succeed?
If people see you defeated, they won't want what you have, but if they see you victorious, they'll want what you have!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Do you know him?
There are many injustices in this world, but the worst one is lack of knowledge of who Jesus is
Matthew 16:13-15 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philipi, He asked the disciples, saying "Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, Some say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them "But who do you say that I am?"
Jesus doesn't want to know what others think of him and what society thinks, He wants to know what you think! He wants for you to know who He is, not to know who people say He is!
Matthew 16:16-17 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
No man can tell you who Jesus is! Only God can, when you get into His word, pray, and spend time with Him.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise; Shine
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is
risen upon you
Arise - Stand up in a hostile, aggressive sense
Shine - To be a reflection
To be a reflection, first you have to see something. A mirror can't reflect you unless it sees you
If we're going to be a reflection of God, we're going to have to know Him first.
The glory of the LORD is who He is! In other words, Who He is has risen upon you!
Lord, I pray that you bless everyone who reads this post. Give them the desire to dive into the knowledge of who you are, so that they may become a reflection of you! Give them that hunger for a personal relationship! In Jesus' name, Amen!
Matthew 16:13-15 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philipi, He asked the disciples, saying "Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, Some say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them "But who do you say that I am?"
Jesus doesn't want to know what others think of him and what society thinks, He wants to know what you think! He wants for you to know who He is, not to know who people say He is!
Matthew 16:16-17 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
No man can tell you who Jesus is! Only God can, when you get into His word, pray, and spend time with Him.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise; Shine
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is
risen upon you
Arise - Stand up in a hostile, aggressive sense
Shine - To be a reflection
To be a reflection, first you have to see something. A mirror can't reflect you unless it sees you
If we're going to be a reflection of God, we're going to have to know Him first.
The glory of the LORD is who He is! In other words, Who He is has risen upon you!
Lord, I pray that you bless everyone who reads this post. Give them the desire to dive into the knowledge of who you are, so that they may become a reflection of you! Give them that hunger for a personal relationship! In Jesus' name, Amen!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
JOSEPH KONY MUST BE STOPPED
"Joseph Kony (born c. 1961) is a Ugandan guerrilla group leader, head of the Lord's Resistance Army. (LRA). While initially enjoying strong public support, the LTA turned brutally on its own supporters, supposedly to "purify" the Acholi people and turn Uganda into a theocracy ruled by the Ten Commandments. The LRA is a militant group with a syncretic Christian extreme religious ideology, known for the atrocities they commit against civilians, including murder, mutilations, rape, and in some accounts even cannibalism.
Directed by Kony, the LRA has earned a reputation for its actions against the people of several countries, including northern Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Sudan. It has abducted and forced an estimated 66,000 children to fight for them, and has forced the internal displacement of over 2 million people since its rebellion began in 1986. In 2005 Kony was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, but has evaded capture."
Joseph Kony is a threat and must be stopped. The world has joined together to raise awareness and stop Joseph Kony in 2012.
"How can I help?"
Start by watching this video. It will explain the rest
Will you be silent, or will you make your voice heard?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Power Vs. Sickness
Acts 1:8 reads: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth."
One of the key words is receive. But what does "receive" truly mean?
Receive - Seize, accept, put on.
We need to grab the power, we need to accept that we have it, and we have to put it on (use it.)
The biggest problem is not that we don't have the power, it's that we don't use it!
The power will manifest when you receive and use it.
Don't just bury it inside you and hide it!
Power is granted to be given away, you didn't get that power for yourself!
Once you have the Jesus flame, you should spread the fire to as many people as possible!
"How do I get the power?" You confess it with your mouth!
"How long do I confess it?" Until you believe it in your heart!
"How do I know if I believe it in my heart?" The power is released!
The power is inside of your body.
Where does the devil attack? Your body.
Coincidence? I think not!
When you turn on a light, what happens? The darkness disappears. They don't coexist. They don't hang out with one another! When the light (Jesus) turns on inside of you, you've gotta get rid of all that darkness (Sin, sickness)! You can only have light or darkness! If you think you have both, one of 'em's not real!
Any foreign power (sickness, corruption) must be dismissed from you!
Romans 8:2 reads: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Free from the law of sin and death means not only free from sin, but free from sickness, disease, and even pain! Stop saying what the devil wants you to say! As soon as you confess a symptom, Satan's got ya!
When the symptom comes to someone who believes in their heart, they should say "not mine!"
When the symptom comes to someone who doesn't, they'll say "oh, that's mine!"
"My back really hurts!" It's yours!
"I have a headache today!" It's yours!
"I feel kinda sick..." It's yours!
Jesus payed the whole debt! All the Darkness is gone! Stop confessing it!
If someone came and payed your entire mortgage, why would you keep sending in payments?
Sin and Sickness are identical twins. Don't treat sickness any differently than you would sin!
One of the key words is receive. But what does "receive" truly mean?
Receive - Seize, accept, put on.
We need to grab the power, we need to accept that we have it, and we have to put it on (use it.)
The biggest problem is not that we don't have the power, it's that we don't use it!
The power will manifest when you receive and use it.
Don't just bury it inside you and hide it!
Power is granted to be given away, you didn't get that power for yourself!
Once you have the Jesus flame, you should spread the fire to as many people as possible!
"How do I get the power?" You confess it with your mouth!
"How long do I confess it?" Until you believe it in your heart!
"How do I know if I believe it in my heart?" The power is released!
The power is inside of your body.
Where does the devil attack? Your body.
Coincidence? I think not!
When you turn on a light, what happens? The darkness disappears. They don't coexist. They don't hang out with one another! When the light (Jesus) turns on inside of you, you've gotta get rid of all that darkness (Sin, sickness)! You can only have light or darkness! If you think you have both, one of 'em's not real!
Any foreign power (sickness, corruption) must be dismissed from you!
Romans 8:2 reads: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Free from the law of sin and death means not only free from sin, but free from sickness, disease, and even pain! Stop saying what the devil wants you to say! As soon as you confess a symptom, Satan's got ya!
When the symptom comes to someone who believes in their heart, they should say "not mine!"
When the symptom comes to someone who doesn't, they'll say "oh, that's mine!"
"My back really hurts!" It's yours!
"I have a headache today!" It's yours!
"I feel kinda sick..." It's yours!
Jesus payed the whole debt! All the Darkness is gone! Stop confessing it!
If someone came and payed your entire mortgage, why would you keep sending in payments?
Sin and Sickness are identical twins. Don't treat sickness any differently than you would sin!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Take Up Your Cross
Luke 9:23. Then he said to them all "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me"
One of the key words at the beginning of this verse is all. The option is open to everyone. it doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter what you have. Jesus opens his invitation for all. Though, Jesus himself says in Mark19: 23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples "Assuredly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven", but I'll get to that later.
Then Jesus says "If anyone desires to come after me" We have to truly want to follow him. We can't fool Jesus, there's no faking it. You may fool everyone else, but Jesus knows your heart.
Now on to the topic of denying yourself. What this is saying is that we have to deny our earthly desires, and spend time with God. This is where I'll come back to Mark 19:23-24. The reason it is harder for a rich man, is because a rich man has more Earthly possessions, and therefore it is harder for him to leave it. Would you be more likely to leave a pile of junk or a pile of money?
The cross was Jesus being persecuted. As Christians, we are going to be persecuted almost every day, but we have to turn the other cheek and walk in love. Just follow Jesus' example. When he was being murdered, he told God to forgive his murderers, for they didn't know what they were doing.
One of the key words at the beginning of this verse is all. The option is open to everyone. it doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter what you have. Jesus opens his invitation for all. Though, Jesus himself says in Mark19: 23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples "Assuredly I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven", but I'll get to that later.
Then Jesus says "If anyone desires to come after me" We have to truly want to follow him. We can't fool Jesus, there's no faking it. You may fool everyone else, but Jesus knows your heart.
Now on to the topic of denying yourself. What this is saying is that we have to deny our earthly desires, and spend time with God. This is where I'll come back to Mark 19:23-24. The reason it is harder for a rich man, is because a rich man has more Earthly possessions, and therefore it is harder for him to leave it. Would you be more likely to leave a pile of junk or a pile of money?
The cross was Jesus being persecuted. As Christians, we are going to be persecuted almost every day, but we have to turn the other cheek and walk in love. Just follow Jesus' example. When he was being murdered, he told God to forgive his murderers, for they didn't know what they were doing.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Feeding the Multitudes
We always think when God asks something of us, ti's going to be something big, something powerful, and/or something painful for us. But sometimes God just want to use what we already have.
Think of the disciples. Jesus took the five loaves of bread that they already had, and used it to feed thousands. Sometimes God's just waiting for us to give him permission.
Often times, you will have to risk your reputation, and risk looking foolish
After giving Jesus the five loaves of bread, the disciples had to go tell everyone to sit, and that they were going to feed them. Do you realize how foolish they would have looked if Jesus didn't come through, and they only brought out a mere five loaves of bread? But they didn't worry about that. They had faith that Jesus would pull through and use what little they had to fill the hunger of thousands.
Think of the disciples. Jesus took the five loaves of bread that they already had, and used it to feed thousands. Sometimes God's just waiting for us to give him permission.
Often times, you will have to risk your reputation, and risk looking foolish
After giving Jesus the five loaves of bread, the disciples had to go tell everyone to sit, and that they were going to feed them. Do you realize how foolish they would have looked if Jesus didn't come through, and they only brought out a mere five loaves of bread? But they didn't worry about that. They had faith that Jesus would pull through and use what little they had to fill the hunger of thousands.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Into God's Promise
The time of transition is over.
For a long time we've been in a time of transition into the PROMISED land. We've been Crossing over into God's Promise!
We've touched down in the Promised land! We've made it!
When the spies went into the Promised Land, Only two of them, Joshua and Caleb, Saw The blessing... all the others only saw Gaints.
Just because we've reached the Promised land doesn't mean our troubles are over, we still have the giants to face! But God is on our side. He's brought us here and he will help us through it!
When God makes you a promise, Do you think the Devil's just going to let you have it! No! You have to take it by force! The Giants have had your promise for a long time, and they're not giving it up! We need to take our inheritance by force! Wouldn't it break your heart if your Children didn't take the inheritance your blood paid for?
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He's no respecter of persons! If he did it for the Israelites, he'll do it for us!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Staying On-board
Acts 27:31 reads: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved" Whenever we come to Christ, We can't go out and live in the world as we did before. We must stay in God, otherwise we won't be saved. We have to keep on track and stay focused on God. It's not an easy task but it's possible.
The men were afraid of crashing onto the rocks, so they wanted to abandon ship. Several Christians are afraid of what people will think and fear persecution, so they abandon God and return to the world. But God offers more protection from harm than the world does. Imagine if a storm hit. Would those men have been better off in the protection of the ship, or out on their own in the waves?
Most people don't want to be Christians because they think it's hard, they think it's a battle. Life's a battle, Christian or not, there's no way around it!
Notice the scripture says: "Unless THESE MEN stay in the ship, YOU cannot be saved"
Paul's not talking to the ones who are wanting to leave the ship, he's talking to others on the ship. They were responsible for one another, otherwise none of them would make it. We're all more likely to make it through life if we have at least one person there to keep us on track, and put us in our place when needed! Similarly, If we notice someone slipping out of the boat or trying to get out, or even in the water swimming away, it's up to us to at least try to stop/help them. If we don't even try, we too will be held accountable before the throne of God.
The men were afraid of crashing onto the rocks, so they wanted to abandon ship. Several Christians are afraid of what people will think and fear persecution, so they abandon God and return to the world. But God offers more protection from harm than the world does. Imagine if a storm hit. Would those men have been better off in the protection of the ship, or out on their own in the waves?
Most people don't want to be Christians because they think it's hard, they think it's a battle. Life's a battle, Christian or not, there's no way around it!
Notice the scripture says: "Unless THESE MEN stay in the ship, YOU cannot be saved"
Paul's not talking to the ones who are wanting to leave the ship, he's talking to others on the ship. They were responsible for one another, otherwise none of them would make it. We're all more likely to make it through life if we have at least one person there to keep us on track, and put us in our place when needed! Similarly, If we notice someone slipping out of the boat or trying to get out, or even in the water swimming away, it's up to us to at least try to stop/help them. If we don't even try, we too will be held accountable before the throne of God.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Weight of Leadership
Even when we don't know it, some one is watching us. We are always influencing someone. Each and every one of us are leaders to someone. Let your actions be a witness to those around you. As my Father always says "Witness to those around you, and when necessary, use words" Our actions should be enough of a witness so that we do not need to use words
Before I begin, A little backstory: David's son, Absalom, has an army of his own and is trying to take David's Kingdom from him.
2 Samuel 18: 1-5: David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and thousands over them. He then sent out the troops, one-third under Joab, one-third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one-third under Ittai the Gittite. The King said to the troops, "I will also march out with you"
"You must not go!" The people pleaded. "If we have to flea, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth 10,000 of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city"
"I will do whatever you think is best," The king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands. The King commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat the Young man Absalom gently for my sake." All the people heard the king's orders to all the commanders about Absalom
As leaders, we need to keep our emotions in check. Absalom is David's enemy, but David tries to show mercy on him, even though Absalom is trying to kill him, and already has killed many of David's men and will kill many more. David is showing his troops that he cares more for his enemy than he does his own army
2 Samuel 18:32-33: The King asked the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom all right?"
The Cushite replied, "May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you with evil intent"
The King was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, "My son, Absalom! My son, my son Absolam! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
David is letting his personal emotions get in the way. The soldiers did what needed to be done, and killed Absalom, and by grieving for him, David is showing, once again, that he cares more for his enemy than for his loyal troops
We need to put aside our emotions whenever we are making a decision. Often times, the right decision will demand personal sacrafice. Do you have what it takes to be a leader? You must be able to make the hard decisions in life. Remember, We are always guiding others, even when we don't know it. David grieved for his son, but little did he know he was putting down his troops at the same time! It is ok to have personal feelings and emotions, but sometimes they should be put aside till we are alone. Had David congratulated his men, then grieved when he was alone in his quarters, his men would have been uplifted. Romans 14:19 Reads "We must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another"
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you should never show emotion in public, But there is a time and place when we need to put them aside
2 Samuel 19:5-7: Then Joab went into the house of David and said, "Today you have shamed all your soldiers - those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines. You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!
Now get up! Go out and encourage your soldiers, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from all your youth until now!"
We all need a Joab in our lives. Joab was not being to harsh. He did what needed to be done, and put David in his place, so that David could do his job. Sometimes we all need some sense smacked into us. We need to have someone there who will be straight and truthful with us when we're in the wrong. And Vice Versa. Whenever we see a friend of ours who is in the wrong, we need to put them in their place. We could be the only ones willing, and if we don't, they won't know they're in the wrong, and could suffer because of it
Before I begin, A little backstory: David's son, Absalom, has an army of his own and is trying to take David's Kingdom from him.
2 Samuel 18: 1-5: David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and thousands over them. He then sent out the troops, one-third under Joab, one-third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one-third under Ittai the Gittite. The King said to the troops, "I will also march out with you"
"You must not go!" The people pleaded. "If we have to flea, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth 10,000 of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city"
"I will do whatever you think is best," The king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands. The King commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat the Young man Absalom gently for my sake." All the people heard the king's orders to all the commanders about Absalom
As leaders, we need to keep our emotions in check. Absalom is David's enemy, but David tries to show mercy on him, even though Absalom is trying to kill him, and already has killed many of David's men and will kill many more. David is showing his troops that he cares more for his enemy than he does his own army
2 Samuel 18:32-33: The King asked the Cushite, "Is the young man Absalom all right?"
The Cushite replied, "May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you with evil intent"
The King was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, "My son, Absalom! My son, my son Absolam! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
David is letting his personal emotions get in the way. The soldiers did what needed to be done, and killed Absalom, and by grieving for him, David is showing, once again, that he cares more for his enemy than for his loyal troops
We need to put aside our emotions whenever we are making a decision. Often times, the right decision will demand personal sacrafice. Do you have what it takes to be a leader? You must be able to make the hard decisions in life. Remember, We are always guiding others, even when we don't know it. David grieved for his son, but little did he know he was putting down his troops at the same time! It is ok to have personal feelings and emotions, but sometimes they should be put aside till we are alone. Had David congratulated his men, then grieved when he was alone in his quarters, his men would have been uplifted. Romans 14:19 Reads "We must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another"
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that you should never show emotion in public, But there is a time and place when we need to put them aside
2 Samuel 19:5-7: Then Joab went into the house of David and said, "Today you have shamed all your soldiers - those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines. You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!
Now get up! Go out and encourage your soldiers, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from all your youth until now!"
We all need a Joab in our lives. Joab was not being to harsh. He did what needed to be done, and put David in his place, so that David could do his job. Sometimes we all need some sense smacked into us. We need to have someone there who will be straight and truthful with us when we're in the wrong. And Vice Versa. Whenever we see a friend of ours who is in the wrong, we need to put them in their place. We could be the only ones willing, and if we don't, they won't know they're in the wrong, and could suffer because of it
Sunday, January 29, 2012
God will not be boxed
Mark 16:15 reads "He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"
Notice how that passage doesn't say "Go ye into all the world's church's, and preach the gospel to every living creature inside them."
God wants us to get out of the church. he wants us to pray and worship in the marketplace, pray and worship in the streets, pray and worship in schools and work!
God wants to be let OUT of the Church, but we continually try to force him inside of it.
Notice how that passage doesn't say "Go ye into all the world's church's, and preach the gospel to every living creature inside them."
God wants us to get out of the church. he wants us to pray and worship in the marketplace, pray and worship in the streets, pray and worship in schools and work!
God wants to be let OUT of the Church, but we continually try to force him inside of it.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Prayer Request - Obama
I know I haven't posted in a while. This isn't a word, but a prayer request.
I need to ask all of you... PLEASE PRAY FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA. I don't care what your opinions are on him. He may be Pro-Choice, but God has called him to end abortion in America. Pray that God moves on him during his last months of presidency and he fulfills his calling!
God does everything for a purpose. A white President from Illinois freed the slaves so that a Black President from Illinois could save the Unborn
I need to ask all of you... PLEASE PRAY FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA. I don't care what your opinions are on him. He may be Pro-Choice, but God has called him to end abortion in America. Pray that God moves on him during his last months of presidency and he fulfills his calling!
God does everything for a purpose. A white President from Illinois freed the slaves so that a Black President from Illinois could save the Unborn
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Enthroned in the praises of his people
2 Chronicles 20:22 reads:
"Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies..."
Worshiping God does not only produce faith, it also brings forth a testimony and sets up a throne for God in your situation. Psalms 22:3 reads "Enthroned IN the praises of his people..."
So this week in whatever situation build a throne for Jesus even if you have to be like Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26 which says "At midnight while in prison they began to pray and sing hymns to God and everybody there listened then suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the prison was shaken and immediatly all the doors were opened!"
*My copyright is the right to copy! Take whatever you want, it all belongs to God, anyways!*
"Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies..."
Worshiping God does not only produce faith, it also brings forth a testimony and sets up a throne for God in your situation. Psalms 22:3 reads "Enthroned IN the praises of his people..."
So this week in whatever situation build a throne for Jesus even if you have to be like Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26 which says "At midnight while in prison they began to pray and sing hymns to God and everybody there listened then suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the prison was shaken and immediatly all the doors were opened!"
*My copyright is the right to copy! Take whatever you want, it all belongs to God, anyways!*
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Jesus, Our Magnificent Obsession: Part 1
Almost every obsession the human heart has is destructive, however, there is one obsession the sets us free, fills us with spiritual pleasure, and crowns us with God's glory. That obsession is Jesus
Christianity is more than a 'get out of hell free pass', a set of rules, and a ministry. This is called Defensive Christianity, focusing on resisting Satan rather than aggressively pursuing Jesus.
Jesus is much more than what most people think. People know him for what he does, but not for who he is. Sure, he is a healer, provider, director, and savior, but he is SO much more than that!
Phil. 3:8 reads "I count all things loss for the excellence [Magnificence] of the knowledge of Jesus Christ..."
Paul [who is speaking in the scripture above] gave up everything after seeing God in his glory for only a few short moments!
Only the Holy Spirit can show us who Jesus is, but remember, he gives based on our hunger, he will not force-feed us
Jesus is the most pleasurable reality anyone can experience
He is the most costly treasure, but far more valuable and lasting than any other
He is the most neglected subject in the modern church
and He will be the most emphasized truth in the generation in which the Lord returns
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