In him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
Sealed - close securely; Holy Spirit - third person of the Trinity, God as spiritually active in the world; Guarantee - promise that something will be fulfilled; Inheritance - free acquisition of something owned by another
Above I've highlighted and underlined the words that stood out to me. If we would take a moment to meditate on those words, I believe we will be encouraged to stand against anything that come our way during these trying times. Meditating on these words gives us power to be bold in every area of life. Believing this scripture gives meaning to an abundant life in Christ and the ability to possess something we had nothing to do with creating or managing.
Because we believe in what was preached to us, the truth about Christ, His assignment and the ushering in of the Holy Spirit who seals the deal and promotes promise of our greatest inheritance...eternal life, not eternal damnation, we have access to the heavenlies. I don't know about you but this gives me strength to go on in Jesus name, till the end.
Just a thought...hold fast to your faith in Christ. Hold fast to the power within you, the Holy Spirit, along with the guarantee we have regarding our inheritance. And finally, know we have some place to go when we leave here...let's make sure we're going up and not down.
Your thoughts!
Friday, May 15, 2020
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Get Out
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." Matthew 14:26-28 NKJV
In order for Peter to experience walking on water, he had to do something he'd never done before: get out of the boat and onto the water. God is calling us in this season to "get out" of some things we've been in and try it a different way. Many of us don't like change, but change orchestrated by God is good change, and a necessary change!
Let's look at it metaphorically for a moment. Peter and the other disciples were in a boat, something they were used to getting around in; they were comfortable in it. They were so used to it that they didn't expect a storm that day. Come on, they were fishermen and fishermen check the weather before going out. When we've been doing something out of habit or routine, our sense of expectation lessens and we tend to depend on the old way and run the possibility of missing the new.
What's your boat today? What's keeping you from walking in the new? What type of thing or situation won't allow you to get out? Whatever it may be, know that with God, you have the power to overcome all things.
Don't you think it's time you got out?
Your thoughts!
In order for Peter to experience walking on water, he had to do something he'd never done before: get out of the boat and onto the water. God is calling us in this season to "get out" of some things we've been in and try it a different way. Many of us don't like change, but change orchestrated by God is good change, and a necessary change!
Let's look at it metaphorically for a moment. Peter and the other disciples were in a boat, something they were used to getting around in; they were comfortable in it. They were so used to it that they didn't expect a storm that day. Come on, they were fishermen and fishermen check the weather before going out. When we've been doing something out of habit or routine, our sense of expectation lessens and we tend to depend on the old way and run the possibility of missing the new.
What's your boat today? What's keeping you from walking in the new? What type of thing or situation won't allow you to get out? Whatever it may be, know that with God, you have the power to overcome all things.
Don't you think it's time you got out?
Your thoughts!
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Speak Existence
(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did Romans 4:17 NKJV
If you knew you had the answer to all your problems, would you use it? If someone you knew was drowning and you had the life jacket (thanks for this one Cedric!), would you throw it to them? These are not trick questions, but questions that we already know the answers to, and the answers would be yes.
If we have faith in God and believe in His Son Jesus, we are heirs of the promise with Abraham. If we are heirs of the promise then we are joint heirs with Christ. If we are joint heirs with Christ then we are sons of God. If we are sons of God then we have the same creative ability as our Father in that what we say, we have. The latter part of today's verse says God calls those things which do not exist as though they did.
It is high time we as the sons of God (here this term has no gender and means mankind) use our creative ability to speak into existence the will of God for our lives. If you're not where you know you should be in life...speak it into existence. If your prayer life can use a revival...speak it into existence. If your child or loved one has lost their way...speak ordered steps by the Lord into their existence. We are where we are because we won't open our mouths. Life and death lie in the power of the tongue. What's on your tongue?
Let's begin to speak those things that be not as though they were and change the very dynamics of every life we touch.
Your thoughts!
If you knew you had the answer to all your problems, would you use it? If someone you knew was drowning and you had the life jacket (thanks for this one Cedric!), would you throw it to them? These are not trick questions, but questions that we already know the answers to, and the answers would be yes.
If we have faith in God and believe in His Son Jesus, we are heirs of the promise with Abraham. If we are heirs of the promise then we are joint heirs with Christ. If we are joint heirs with Christ then we are sons of God. If we are sons of God then we have the same creative ability as our Father in that what we say, we have. The latter part of today's verse says God calls those things which do not exist as though they did.
It is high time we as the sons of God (here this term has no gender and means mankind) use our creative ability to speak into existence the will of God for our lives. If you're not where you know you should be in life...speak it into existence. If your prayer life can use a revival...speak it into existence. If your child or loved one has lost their way...speak ordered steps by the Lord into their existence. We are where we are because we won't open our mouths. Life and death lie in the power of the tongue. What's on your tongue?
Let's begin to speak those things that be not as though they were and change the very dynamics of every life we touch.
Your thoughts!
Monday, May 11, 2020
A Made Up Mind
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21 ESV
I'd like to shine a little light on indecisiveness. We face countless decisions throughout our day, week, month, year, and lifetime: decisions that require our attention. But if we're the type of person who continues to put off or pass off making a decision, we're indecisive. There could be many reasons why we don't make timely decisions: procrastination, fear, fear of failure, or being a people pleaser, to name a few. If any of these things keep you from making decisions when necessary, then it's high time you/we call it out and deal with it.
In our text we find Elijah the prophet speaking to the children of Israel and asking them how long do they plan to stay on the fence about serving God. I'm certain many of you who read this blog have made a decision about salvation, but are you serving Him in keeping His commandments? We tend to take His name, but fall short in taking on His character. This is not a hard fete to accomplish. We need only to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to complete the work in us necessary to look and act more like Christ. When we do this, have a made up mind, everyone will see the transformation and marvel at the work of God, thereby glorifying Him. If He can do it for me, I am confident He will do the same for you. My decisions are not only made in a timely manner now, but they are my own and not predicated upon someone else or what they think.
Join the ranks of me and countless others, have a made up mind...serve the Lord with gladness and with your lifestyle!
Your thoughts!
I'd like to shine a little light on indecisiveness. We face countless decisions throughout our day, week, month, year, and lifetime: decisions that require our attention. But if we're the type of person who continues to put off or pass off making a decision, we're indecisive. There could be many reasons why we don't make timely decisions: procrastination, fear, fear of failure, or being a people pleaser, to name a few. If any of these things keep you from making decisions when necessary, then it's high time you/we call it out and deal with it.
In our text we find Elijah the prophet speaking to the children of Israel and asking them how long do they plan to stay on the fence about serving God. I'm certain many of you who read this blog have made a decision about salvation, but are you serving Him in keeping His commandments? We tend to take His name, but fall short in taking on His character. This is not a hard fete to accomplish. We need only to heed the voice of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to complete the work in us necessary to look and act more like Christ. When we do this, have a made up mind, everyone will see the transformation and marvel at the work of God, thereby glorifying Him. If He can do it for me, I am confident He will do the same for you. My decisions are not only made in a timely manner now, but they are my own and not predicated upon someone else or what they think.
Join the ranks of me and countless others, have a made up mind...serve the Lord with gladness and with your lifestyle!
Your thoughts!
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Spiritual Investment
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Acts 3:6
At some point in time, those of us who name the name of Jesus, must begin to fully invest in what we say we believe. It's not enough any longer to say we believe and we belong to Christ...it's high time the rubber meet the road. Because we belong to Him, there should be evidence. If we're in the same predicament we were in when we first came to Christ, and doing the same old things, then we haven't invested enough into our spiritual walk with Christ.
In Christ we have the power to be transformed and renewed. We also have the power to help someone else do the same. Peter and John had enough confidence and belief in the name of Jesus, to speak to the lame man laying at the gate Beautiful, and to allow themselves to be a conduit to the man walking. This was a miracle in that the man was lame from birth. If that's not evidence in who they were and whose power flowed through them, I don't know what is. Silver and gold fluctuates in their value, but the power of God, in the name of Jesus will NEVER lose it's power.
Tap into that power today. Make a conscience decision to invest more into your spiritual journey with the Father. We invest in so many other things that only has earthly value and will eventually pass away, but today let's invest in our eternal future.
Your thoughts!
At some point in time, those of us who name the name of Jesus, must begin to fully invest in what we say we believe. It's not enough any longer to say we believe and we belong to Christ...it's high time the rubber meet the road. Because we belong to Him, there should be evidence. If we're in the same predicament we were in when we first came to Christ, and doing the same old things, then we haven't invested enough into our spiritual walk with Christ.
In Christ we have the power to be transformed and renewed. We also have the power to help someone else do the same. Peter and John had enough confidence and belief in the name of Jesus, to speak to the lame man laying at the gate Beautiful, and to allow themselves to be a conduit to the man walking. This was a miracle in that the man was lame from birth. If that's not evidence in who they were and whose power flowed through them, I don't know what is. Silver and gold fluctuates in their value, but the power of God, in the name of Jesus will NEVER lose it's power.
Tap into that power today. Make a conscience decision to invest more into your spiritual journey with the Father. We invest in so many other things that only has earthly value and will eventually pass away, but today let's invest in our eternal future.
Your thoughts!
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Principle: Touching and Agreeing
Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." And she said, "let your maidservant find favor in your sight." So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 1 Samuel 1:17-18 NKJV
What we see at work here is the principle of "touching and agreeing." Hannah was experiencing what we call today "bullying" by her husband's other wife (yep, that was a thing back in those days and are still even going on in some countries today). The other wife Peninnah was tormenting her so bad that she would not eat and walked around sad all of the time. You have one wife popping out kids left and right for her husband and Hannah was barren and could not give her husband the one thing she desired to give him...a male child. Having children, especially male kids, were a type of status which meant you were doing well for yourself.
We may feel as though some of our ships have sailed, or that the shop has a going out of business sign hanging at the door (I'm speaking rhetorically...stay with me), but how many of you know God has the final say. Hannah knew the one thing to do was to cry out to God and to touch and agree with a person of faith and turn it over to God to do the rest. Who are we to tell Him how our blessings should come, we need but only be grateful that it is coming. Hannah believed God heard her petition and then when the man of God, Eli seconded it, that was enough for her countenance and outlook to change. She even got herself something to eat.
Don't allow what you perceive to be lost or impossible, to be lost forever. You need only believe and have someone touch and agree with you on that thang...then you wait and thank God while you're waiting. If it's God's will, it shall come to pass. Believe dat!
Your thoughts!
What we see at work here is the principle of "touching and agreeing." Hannah was experiencing what we call today "bullying" by her husband's other wife (yep, that was a thing back in those days and are still even going on in some countries today). The other wife Peninnah was tormenting her so bad that she would not eat and walked around sad all of the time. You have one wife popping out kids left and right for her husband and Hannah was barren and could not give her husband the one thing she desired to give him...a male child. Having children, especially male kids, were a type of status which meant you were doing well for yourself.
We may feel as though some of our ships have sailed, or that the shop has a going out of business sign hanging at the door (I'm speaking rhetorically...stay with me), but how many of you know God has the final say. Hannah knew the one thing to do was to cry out to God and to touch and agree with a person of faith and turn it over to God to do the rest. Who are we to tell Him how our blessings should come, we need but only be grateful that it is coming. Hannah believed God heard her petition and then when the man of God, Eli seconded it, that was enough for her countenance and outlook to change. She even got herself something to eat.
Don't allow what you perceive to be lost or impossible, to be lost forever. You need only believe and have someone touch and agree with you on that thang...then you wait and thank God while you're waiting. If it's God's will, it shall come to pass. Believe dat!
Your thoughts!
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Walk by Faith, Until We Have Sight
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NKJV
As we relate with the Lord God, the connection is 100% spirit to spirit. God in His deity and perfection cannot have fellowship with any darkness...our flesh is darkness or sinful if you will. So while we're still in this earthen vessel called a "body" we are absent from Him in the sense of experiencing Him in His full glory.
The Apostle Paul goes on to say we are connected to Him through the Holy Spirit, by faith, not by sight. In other words, faith is for this world, but when we receive our glorified bodies, that which was not made by human hands, we will no longer need faith, for we shall see Him as He is.
What a glorious time that will be when we will no longer require faith because faith has manifested itself into sight!
Let that thang marinate in your spirit, then ask someone to hold your mule!!! I did!
Your thoughts!
As we relate with the Lord God, the connection is 100% spirit to spirit. God in His deity and perfection cannot have fellowship with any darkness...our flesh is darkness or sinful if you will. So while we're still in this earthen vessel called a "body" we are absent from Him in the sense of experiencing Him in His full glory.
The Apostle Paul goes on to say we are connected to Him through the Holy Spirit, by faith, not by sight. In other words, faith is for this world, but when we receive our glorified bodies, that which was not made by human hands, we will no longer need faith, for we shall see Him as He is.
What a glorious time that will be when we will no longer require faith because faith has manifested itself into sight!
Let that thang marinate in your spirit, then ask someone to hold your mule!!! I did!
Your thoughts!
Monday, May 4, 2020
Next Level
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what he ha done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 NIV
We are in some tumultuous times, some would even say desperate. Well, you and I both know, desperate times calls for desperate measures...so we've heard. As I'm not sure about that last sentence, I am sure of this; we ought to praise God in all things and talk about how awesome He is. I believe some don't praise Him or give Him glory because they don't know Him for themselves. We hear of the testimonies of others and what God has done for them, but what has He done for you...would you even recognize it when He does do something for you? Will your praise be directed back to Him?
In our text we find King David putting together a psalm (song of praise) simply because God is God. He encourages through this song to praise the Lord God and to tell of His marvelous works. He also admonishes us to seek the Lord and to look to Him and His strength. The Message Bible says "study God and His strength." Sure we read about Him, but do we ever study Him? If you're ready for the next level in your spiritual journey with the Lord, I double-dog-dare you to begin to study God.
As we prepare for the return of Christ, I believe this is what God wants His bride to be doing: studying to know more about Her King. Preparing Herself for what lies in eternity with the true and living God. Seeking to know more about Him and this place that has been prepared for us.
Are you ready for the next level?
Your thoughts!
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 NIV
We are in some tumultuous times, some would even say desperate. Well, you and I both know, desperate times calls for desperate measures...so we've heard. As I'm not sure about that last sentence, I am sure of this; we ought to praise God in all things and talk about how awesome He is. I believe some don't praise Him or give Him glory because they don't know Him for themselves. We hear of the testimonies of others and what God has done for them, but what has He done for you...would you even recognize it when He does do something for you? Will your praise be directed back to Him?
In our text we find King David putting together a psalm (song of praise) simply because God is God. He encourages through this song to praise the Lord God and to tell of His marvelous works. He also admonishes us to seek the Lord and to look to Him and His strength. The Message Bible says "study God and His strength." Sure we read about Him, but do we ever study Him? If you're ready for the next level in your spiritual journey with the Lord, I double-dog-dare you to begin to study God.
As we prepare for the return of Christ, I believe this is what God wants His bride to be doing: studying to know more about Her King. Preparing Herself for what lies in eternity with the true and living God. Seeking to know more about Him and this place that has been prepared for us.
Are you ready for the next level?
Your thoughts!
Friday, May 1, 2020
Heed His Warnings Part II
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Matthew 24:24-25 NKJV
Yesterday we touched on the subject of prophets and how they are the mouthpiece of God who warn and encourage His people. Keep in mind we have an adversary who tries to imitate God and as Scriptures says, he operates as an angel of light with the sole purpose to deceive God's people (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The enemy (Satan) knows this is a time when God will manifest His power of miracles, signs and wonders like never before, so as to help the non-believer believe. If we're not discerning (looking beyond what we see in the natural) we too could be deceived. This is a time saints and friends for us to really get into the Word of God and not only discern the time, but also ready ourselves for that which have been spoken of by the prophets of old, as well as what the ones of today are saying. Listen to sound doctrine! Watch for prophecy that comes to pass...this is how you know if it is a prophet of God. Play time is over and we have to be on our "A" game.
Are you ready???
Your thoughts!
Yesterday we touched on the subject of prophets and how they are the mouthpiece of God who warn and encourage His people. Keep in mind we have an adversary who tries to imitate God and as Scriptures says, he operates as an angel of light with the sole purpose to deceive God's people (2 Corinthians 11:14).
The enemy (Satan) knows this is a time when God will manifest His power of miracles, signs and wonders like never before, so as to help the non-believer believe. If we're not discerning (looking beyond what we see in the natural) we too could be deceived. This is a time saints and friends for us to really get into the Word of God and not only discern the time, but also ready ourselves for that which have been spoken of by the prophets of old, as well as what the ones of today are saying. Listen to sound doctrine! Watch for prophecy that comes to pass...this is how you know if it is a prophet of God. Play time is over and we have to be on our "A" game.
Are you ready???
Your thoughts!
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