Monthly Archive

Ecclesiastes 3:1 1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

11a: He has made everything beautiful in its time.

There are going to be times in life where our situations are not as pleasant as we want them to be. We may be in a position where we could be in a better financial position. Or, we could be in a situation where we feel like we should be further along in life than we are. The key is not to magnify these ugly situations because the very same God Who carries us in these ugly situations has the ability to beautify our situation. That’s why the Bible calls for faith and patience to inherit our promises (Hebrews 6:12).

It may not seem or feel pleasant when we’re going through but, as we shift our focus and faith on the brighter side, we can have peace in the midst of any situation.

We spend so much time with wanting to know who fought or slept with who on a reality TV show. We spend even more time commenting about our haters on a social media site. We spend the greatest amount of time attempting to escape reality (Facebooking, clubbing, drinking, etc.)

Do you think heaven really cares about that? Of course not. God desires that we be His hands, feet, and mouthpiece on earth.
When was the last time you witnessed to an unbeliever? When was the last time you encouraged a brother or sister who has strayed off God’s path? When was last time you did a random act of kindness for someone?
If it was over a month ago, you might need to shift your priorities to heaven’s standards.

Find out what God desires from you, and commit your ways to His.

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Be Blessed

Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Have you ever heard in a song or in worship the saying, “we’re so unworthy?” That statement was true at one point in time in our life or for an unbeliever. But, once we get born again by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that statement undermines everything Jesus has done.

Jesus was sent from a glorious heaven to a sin filled earth. Jesus was separated from His Father, bore ALL our sins, hung, bled, and died. Jesus went to hell and received the torture from death for 3 days. Finally Jesus was raised from the dead, poured His blood on the mercy seat of God, and intercedes for us as we speak.
Jesus did all of that so that we can say, “we’re unworthy?” I think not.

Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we are worthy to be called sons and daughters of God, we are worthy to be called righteous, and we are worthy to receive eternal life with Our Father.

Thank You Jesus for our worthiness.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God has a promise of peace. Not just ordinary peace but, peace that passes all understanding. This means when we face difficult situations, and others don’t understand why we’re calm in this situation, we can say it’s our promise of peace. Crying, screaming, and worrying doesn’t make the situation go away. What we need to do is, rely on God’s peace.
So, for the people who have faced or about to face a natural disaster in Hurricane Isaac, declare God’s peace in the middle of that situation.

Peace

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Many people call themselves Christians but, many people have not made Jesus Lord over their life.
Going to church does not make Him Lord.
Praying over your food does not make Him Lord.
Reading your Bible doesn’t mean Jesus is Lord.
These are good starting points but, that’s not the embodiment of Lordship.

When we KNOW and APPLY the Word of God to our life, forsaking all other views, concepts, and doctrines to follow Christ, then and only then have we made Jesus Lord.

We can talk a good Christian game but, how about making Him Lord?

Inspired by Pastor D. Golden

John 13: 34A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

Our most important role in this life is to love. God is our first love and others are our second. The best way to draw others to God and a better quality of life is to embody the love of God. While we do not compromise on our faith in the Word of God or beliefs in what it says pleases God, we choose to demonstrate love to all.

1 John 4: 8He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 16And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. 19We love him, because he first loved us.

Proverbs 24:15-16 Don’t interfere with good people’s lives; don’t try to get the best of them. No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don’t stay down long; Soon they’re up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

When we live for God, we live under His covering.  He looks over us, and though we may fall, we continue to get back up. Because we operate on God’s supernatural strength, we are unstoppable when we walk within His will.  Praise God that we continue to rise!!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is like a muscle. If a muscle is not strengthened, the muscle will usually fail in the time of a test. The way we build our faith is through opportunity. We have the opportunity to use our faith for any and everything.
Most people know to use their faith to obtain a car, a job, a house, healing, and deliverance. But, did you know our faith can be strengthened when we release it for “minor” things as well? Release your faith for a great parking spot in a crowded parking lot. Release your faith for stress free travel conditions. Release your faith for green grass during a hot summer. Even in the minor things, God is still pleased when we use our faith (Hebrews 11:6).

When we use our faith for everything, we’re conditioning our mind to rely on and respond with God’s Word in every circumstance regardless of how the situation appears. That way, when our faith is truly tested, our faith won’t fail like an unused muscle.

Work Your Faith!

Matthew 8:26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

In this incident, Jesus shows the believer how to use their faith to change the atmosphere. Jesus could have used His faith to make sure the ship makes it across to the other side safely, but Jesus took it to another level. Instead of barely making it across torn and tattered, Jesus declared peace in the atmosphere.

We have the authority to do the same thing Jesus did. We don’t have to allow the situations and circumstances in life to get us down. We have the ability to use our faith to change the situation entirely. Regarding authority in this earth, we are on the same level and have the same abilities as Jesus.

So, we shouldn’t get frustrated with where we are financially, spiritually, emotionally, or physically; have faith and use your mouth to proclaim the truth in God’s Word to change our atmosphere.

#Don’t take what life gives you; change what life gives you.

Romans 4:17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed–the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Have you ever heard a person say, “I call it like I see it?” For the believer, that statement is not necessarily true. The believer is taught to walk by faith and not by sight. What we see may be a fact but, just because it’s a fact doesn’t make it true. The real truth is found in God’s Word.

The truth is, even though our bank shows not enough; we declare more than enough.
The truth is, even though we’re struggling with temptations; we proclaim our deliverance.
The truth is, even though our situation may not be how we want it to be; we declare all is well.

It’s in our belief and speech.
Have faith and use your mouth to proclaim the truth in God’s Word to shame the devil.

Psalm 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Proverbs 13:21 Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

Many times people in the body of Christ look at prosperity as if it were a curse. When prosperity is mentioned in a sermon, people seem to cringe as though it were a bad word.

God desires that His children prosper. Not just in our wealth but, God desires that we prosper in our families, careers, schooling, and so much more. Having a great education, great career, nice clothes, nice car, etc. is not a problem. Where the problem lies is if those materialistic things have us. However, if we please and pursue God, those great materialistic things will be easily available to all of us.

So, don’t be afraid to pursue the finer things in life. Just remember to keep God first.

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

Have you ever done all you know to do spiritually and naturally to change a situation but, it still doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would? These times can cause a person to be perplexed or frustrated. Even though we may be frustrated by the situation, we shouldn’t allow our frustration to drive us to despair. We are not driven to despair because of our faith in the Word of God.

We know with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).
We know all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28).
We know according to our faith, whatever we desire will manifest (Mark 9:29).

With faith (total belief) in the Word of God, the manifestation of change will arrive.

Despair Not!

Isaiah 54:10 For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.

Even if the mountains walk away, and the hills fall to pieces, God’s love will not walk away from us.  God’s love for us is endless and permanent.  Praise God that He loves us as we are, imperfections included!!

2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

If our life honors God, He honors us; honoring God involves making a consistent effort to do His will.  And when our will is aligned with His will then He fuels our plans and they prosper.  So, while our salvation cannot be earned, and we have already been made righteous (Romans 5:19), we continue to walk in His will and receive the fulfillment of our desires!

When we get born again, everyone tells us we should obey God to be blessed. But, not too many people tell us how to obey God. When we have been living a certain way for so long, we become accustomed to that lifestyle. The question is, how are we supposed to change our sinful ways after living a lifestyle for so long?

Here are some initial steps we can use in our journey to pleasing the Lord.

1. Receive the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit of God to do the work.
Zachariah 4:6 says, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.
When we get saved, we should receive the Holy Spirit. When the temptations of reverting back to our old ways arise, we are to call on the Holy Spirit to help and guide us.

2. Renew our Mind
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Let our mind conform to the Word of God. Whatever the Bible says is right, we say is right. No matter how we feel, what people say, or how long we’ve lived that way, let the Word of God be true in our hearts.

3. Submit to God.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
No matter how long we have been saved, the devil will always tempt us. As we submit our bodies, mind, will, imagination, emotions, and intellect to God when making a conscious effort to do His will, the devil and his temptations will flee.

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Let’s magnify the last statement in this verse….my cup overflows.

Most Christians want to live a life of so called humility. They want to have just enough in their cup but, not too much as if the poorer we are, the closer we get to God. The more liberal Christians want to have at least a full cup. They want the manifestation of their dreams and desires but, at the end of the day their’s a limit.

Honestly, according to this scripture, God wants more for His people. God desires our cup to overflow. We should have so much in our cup until we have enough to lend to the nations (Deuteronomy 28:12). I’m not ONLY speaking of money. We should have an overflow of love to give, an overflow of wisdom to give, an overflow of service to give, etc. How else do we expect to be a blessing according Genesis 12:2 without surplus?

Let’s elevate our thinking to the level of overflow because that’s what God desires for His people.

Real Blessed!

Galatians 3:13: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
14: He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Have you ever wondered why Adam did not receive a Covenant or a blessing? The reason is because Adam introduced the curse in the earth. The curse includes death, disease, poverty and the things alike. After Adam sinned, God established a plan with Abraham and His seed to allow the believer to experience the abundant life in a cursed world. The blessing trumps the curse every time.

So, for a believer…
If the doctor says we have cancer, we say, we have the promise of healing and we are healed.
If our bank account shows only $200.00 at the beginning of the month, we say, we are wealthy.
If our marriage seems to be in shambles, we say, we have a marriage made in heaven.

Remember the covenant of God and don’t settle for less.

Inspired by Pastor Winston

When we first get born again, our faith is at the baby phase. We simply believe with our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. But, how many know God wants more from us? God wants us to continue to grow in faith. He sent His Son to reclaim everything that was stolen in order for us to believe and receive His finished work. Yes, a small amount of faith will move mountains but, great faith moves God Who created the mountain. Jesus was emotionally moved when great faith presented itself in Matthew 8:10.

Allow your faith to be perfected by placing your faith (trust, hope, reliance, and confidence) in God and His Word.

Be Blessed

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

God wrote this book (The Bible) in order for us to obtain and maintain hope. There are many things that will attempt to frustrate us and make feel like all hope is gone. But, with this Word, we can find God’s promises assuring us that hope is alive.

When God’s Word said “we are healed,” this is not a possibility; we are healed. Any sickness or disease we may face is an attack on what God promised; health.
When God’s Word says, “we are the righteousness of God,” this is absolutely true. Whatever sin we commit will not make us lose our righteousness. As long as Jesus is Lord and Savior over our lives, we will forever be righteous in God’s sight.

Read the Word of God and expound on His promises and keep hope alive.

Be blessed!

In attempts to obey God, we can become so focused on the sin, that it consumes our thoughts and leaves us destined to repeat. But, what if instead of being disheartened by the sin, we recited what God has called us to? Whether in the midst of the sin, or battling the temptations of it, how much more would our resistance hold if we accessed the “greater is He” that’s within, by proclaiming God’s Word?

During the temptation or the sin, and even while not tempted, declare, “I have been made righteous. I am the righteousness of God” (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In addition to salvation, God blessed us with an awesome gift, His Spirit. We have insight into His thoughts, infinite wisdom, direction, and revelation. Invite God’s Spirit to direct you and obey that voice or prompting when He does. With every move of obedience, expect more clarity of communication from God’s Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2: 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

Want long life? Well, obey God’s Word.
Want to be prosperous? Well, obey God’s Word.

God not only wants to prosper us, He wants us to have longevity of prosperity. What does longevity of prosperity do for the believer?
1. It enhances the quality of our life here on earth.
2. It allows others to see the blessing working in our life.
3. As the blessing draws people closer to us, we have the opportunity to show them the way to Christ.

Praise God for this longevity of prosperity. But, it first starts with us.

Be Blessed!

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God is giving us the steps to receive His promises.
1. Pray, Petition, and Give Thanks
Our starting point to receive anything from God is prayer. Prayer is our direct line to communicate with God. While in prayer, we have to make our petition known to God. Yes, God knows what we need before we ask but, He still wants us to ask (Matthew 6:8). Since we know that God hears us according to 1 John 5:15; our next step is to thank God for the manifestation of our request. Even if we don’t see it or know how it’s going to manifest, thank God for it in advance.

2. Do not be anxious.
Anxiety creates worry, worry creates doubts, and doubt contaminates faith. In order for us to receive anything from God, we have to believe without doubt (James 1:6).

3. Rest in the peace of God.
Since God’s Word said our requests will come to pass; we are to rest in the promises of His Word. Temptations, negativity, and doubt will attempt to enter our mind and emotions but, when those attempts occur, declare the peace of God to ease every anxiety or worry from our mind and emotions.

Romans 2:4 Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Have you ever heard the phrase, you can catch more flies with sugar rather than vinegar? This phrase is saying a person can attract more people if they are kind rather than harsh or mean. God operates the same way.

God is not all hell, fire, and brimstone like some people choose to believe. Now, for those who don’t accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; they will have to suffer the consequences of hell, fire, and brimstone but, God doesn’t use those things to get people to repent. God attracts people to repentance with His goodness.
If God attracts people with His goodness, shouldn’t we do the same? We shouldn’t go around condemning and Bible beating people due to their behavior. Let them know the truth. The truth is God did not send His Son Jesus so that we can continue living in sin.
His goodness saved us, His goodness keeps us, and His goodness allows us to rest in His promises.

Rest in the goodness of God.

To those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are the righteous ones (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Psalm 37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
-We, the righteous, will never be forsaken. God will always provide for us. Not only for us but, for our descendants as well.

Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.
– We, the righteous, have the opportunity to receive any and everything we desire. As long as we have good intentions and as long as our desires line up with God’s will, we can have them.

Matthew 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
-We, the righteous, have the opportunity to receive eternal life. Our eternal life doesn’t start when we leave this earth. From the moment we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we received eternal life.

Praise God that through the blood of Jesus, we are made righteous.

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

Jesus used a conditional statement about love: If you really loved me you would…

The most important commandments He gave us were to love God and others. Do we really love Him? Do we strive to honor Him, knowing that we already have salvation and could never do enough to earn that, but show honor solely because it pleases Him?

Speak with God, study His Word, and learn about what pleases Him. Then, do those things.

Do you allow yourself to worry? When those thoughts come do you continuously mull them over as if your efforts in thought are going to change the situation? Jesus left us with peace, but we have to choose to access it. How much easier would life be if you knew there was a positive conclusion to every trying time?

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV)

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 NKJV)

Audibly declare God’s Word when thoughts of worry come, and enjoy the peace of God.

Philippians 3:16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

With the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have attained righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).
Righteousness- right standing with God.
Some of us don’t live up to our potential to stay in right standing with God. We do whatever pleases our flesh. Praise God that our righteousness cannot be removed because of sin. But, let us strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.

We have attained the power to be Holy (2 Tim 1:9).
Holiness- whatever God says is right or wrong, we say it’s right or wrong and live accordingly.
No need to debate or argue with the Word of God. No matter how we feel or what new information we hear, God’s Word is true at face value and everything else is a lie. Live a life according to the Word of God.

We have attained Lordship (Romans 10:9).
Jesus is Lord- this means, we no longer get to do what we want to do.
In a work environment, most of us don’t do what we want to do when we want to do it because we have a supervisor over us. Why do we feel like we can do what we want to do in life when we have a Lord over us? Do what Jesus tells us to do and walk in love.

Whatever Jesus has attained, let us live it up to our fullest potential.

Be Blessed!

Philippians 1:17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

The greatest thing in the world is that the Gospel is preached. A lot of times people criticize ministers of the Gospel. Some call them crooks, while others call them perverted. Unfortunately, everyone who calls themselves a minister is not accurately portraying the image of Christ. Let God deal with that!
The most important thing is that the Gospel is being preached. Those same ministers could be the road someone uses to become saved. They may not know that minister’s background or dirt. All they know, is this minister is giving me an opportunity to become saved. Let the Gospel be preached!

Our responsibility is to pray for every minister of the Gospel because they face the same temptations we all do. The only difference is their life is under a spotlight.
Don’t discredit a minister because of their lifestyle; let the Gospel be preached.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Some people believe once we get saved, the tough days are gone and God is going to handle all of our problems. That kind of thinking is far from the truth. The Word of God says in multiple areas that we are going to face difficult times. This scripture even calls those times, evil days. These tough times or evil days are a product of the curse in the earth.

But with every difficult time we face, God has given the believer an outlet; Himself. In this scripture, God literally allows the believer to wear Him as an armor. When applied correctly, this armor is impenetrable. There is nothing that can defeat us in this armor because with God, all things are possible.

Praise God we have an outlet of armor.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

There are two things we can learn from this scripture.

1. Be strong in the Lord.
The Word of God is speaking directly to us. It’s saying we are to be strong. Magical dust is not going to fall out the sky and make us strong and God is not going to do it for us. It is up to us to receive strength from the Lord.

2. In the power of His might.
The strength we need doesn’t come by our physical strength or will power. The source of our strength is in God. It is His might that overcomes addictions. It is His might that delivers us from bondage. It is His might that allows us to resist temptations.

God has already given us the strength. We must be open and available to receive the strength that He has already provided.

Be Blessed!