Self sufficient or fully dependent

One of our many faults is that we believe we are self sufficient, that we don’t need to rely on others or God.

I have heard the quote a thousand times,” God helps those who help themselves “ this is not spoken in scripture anywhere.

God word says this: “In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”

2 Thessalonians 3:10 CSB

So if God has given you the ability to work then you should be working,  and providing for your family. 

This is not the point though, God helps those who come to the end of themselves and realize their dependence on Him, not just for small things or the big things in life, but in ALL things.

We must tear down the idol of self sufficiency, of isolation and come to the altar and offer all of ourselves as living sacrifices to God the Father, surrender our stubborn pride and realize our total dependence on God.

If we take the time to listen too what God says instead of rushing through our day we would hear Him and see His mighty works of grace and supplication in our lives.

Look at how Jesus taught us to pray, the entire prayer shows us our total dependence on God, not one word in this prayer shows us or tells us we can do anything without God’s help. 

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:9-13 CSB

Let’s not just say the words and go through the motions, let’s live as God has instructed us, as our creator and Father, He has our lives in His hands.

Seven days that changed eternity

The crowd laid palm branches before Jesus as He entered the town a sign they submitted to His authority it is also a symbol of salvation, and they cried out hosanna which means Please Save us, for they longed for a savior. But in less than a week they would cry out crucify Him for they were easily swayed by those in charge.

What we forget though is this all of this was God the Fathers plan and Jesus was in on it from the beginning.

Jesus said “So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.””

John 10:7-18 HCSB

This week in history changed everything!

In the first seven days God created everything and gave man life, and in the seven days of this Holy Week God brought redemption and finalized the story of salvation, no longer was there a great gulf between God and man, Jesus fulfilled all the requirements so we can be reconciled to God, when He said it is finished, all of creation groaned and hell shook for no longer was man bound by sin and death. 

The cries for hosanna were heard and answered by God through Jesus, the only way to get to God the Father is through Christ the Son, today people still cry hosanna , (save us) and God answers I have sent you my only begotten SON, believe in Him and you shall be saved.

““For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.”

John 3:16-18 HCSB

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.””

John 14:6-7 HCSB

“But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven? ” that is, to bring Christ down or, “Who will go down into the abyss? ” that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:6-13 HCSB

Be free from the curse of sin and death

Sin, like aging we get used to we do not even acknowledge it in our day to day lives. But God in His holiness and righteousness sees it and hates it.

It is time we take serious the cost of sin, because of sin we have sickness, death, poverty, slavery, hate, brokenness loneliness, despair, terrorism, war, droughts, famine, earthquakes and other natural disasters, murder, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, abortions,rape, anger, liars, lust, gossip, bigotry,the list goes on.

These things entered the world because Adam sinned against God, and we continue in his foot steps.

But the good news is we do not need to be held in the grasp of sin and death because of Jesus Christ, and His work on the cross. Come be free today, repent of your sin, and be washed in the blood of the lamb for He alone has bore the wrath of God for you and I.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us -- not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy -- through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

A higher calling!

As Christians we are called out of the world, we are soldiers in the army of the Lord, our weapons are used not to kill but to set free those held captive.

We must engage our culture on the issues that they do not want to engage God on, for they know right from wrong.

Poverty, same sex marriage, racism, sex slavery, immigration, persecution, abortion, orphans, pornography, these are issues the world embraces but we as Christians can not be in line with the world.

We are called to to be steadfast and immovable speaking the truth out of love, showing them the way.

Do not disengage in the heat of battle, engage armed with the word of God and in His Spirit.

Here is a great quote.

If I profess with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I AM NOT confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity,

Where the battle rages the loyalty of the soldier is proved ; and to be steady on ALL the battle-field besides is mere flight and disgrace to him if he flinches at that point.

Elizabeth Rundle Charles

“And I say to you, My friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the One to fear: Fear Him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear! Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?   Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.   Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows! “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,   but whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”

Luke 12:4-12

Even so come quickly Lord Jesus

Some are fearful of the times we live in, but as a child of God I do not fear for me, but those who reject God's grace, and love. For perilous times are coming, what we face now is no more than birth pains, soon the world will know what it will be like when God rejects them as they have rejected Him.

Luke 12:4-5, 8-9, 11-12 HCSB

“And I say to you, My friends,  don’t fear  those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the One to fear: Fear  Him who has authority to throw people into hell  after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear! “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges  Me before men, the Son of Man  will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,    but whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.   Whenever  they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,  don’t worry  about how you should defend  yourselves or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”

Matthew 24:7-10, 12-14, 21-22, 27-31 HCSB

For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines     and earthquakes in various places.   All these events are the beginning of birth pains.  “Then they will hand you over for persecution,    and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.   Then many will take offense, betray one another and hate one another. Because lawlessness  will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.    This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world    as a testimony to all nations.  And then the end will come.  For at that time there will be great tribulation,  the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again! Unless those days were limited, no one would    survive.    But those days will be limited because of the elect.  For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.    Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures    will gather.  “Immediately after the tribulation  of those days: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the celestial powers will be shaken. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples of the earth    will mourn;    and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet,  and they will gather His elect from the four winds,  from one end of the sky to the other.

Revelation 22:17, 20 HCSB

Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come! ” Anyone who hears should say, “Come! ” And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift. He who testifies about these things  says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

The writing is on the wall

When you read the headlines of our nation, we see the debauchery of our leaders. Money and power are two gods they treasure , they raise money for themselves and other candidates charging anywhere from $10,000 too $35,000 a plate with the rich and elite in our nation (both sides,) they raise their cups to their gods and they worship them with their hearts and words while the nation and world burn.

Then they pander the poor and voiceless for money promising things they will not deliver. Don't put your faith in man, take your tithes and offerings to your local place of worship. Help them feed the hungry, pay bills for families that are struggling, clothes those who can't afford new clothes, serve orphans and widows. If you truly want to make a difference and impact your Nation and community give unto the body of Christ, not a political party.

Can't you see the writing is on the wall in America as it was in ancient Babylon. MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

Daniel 5:1-31 HCSB

King Belshazzar  held a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles and drank wine in their presence. Under the influence of  the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels  that his predecessor  Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them. So they brought in the gold  vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem,  and the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

At that moment the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king’s palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand  that was writing, his face turned pale,  and his thoughts so terrified him that his hip joints shook and his knees knocked together. The king called out to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck,  and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” So all the king’s wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make its interpretation known to him. Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale,  and his nobles were bewildered. Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen  came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.  

There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him.  In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the diviners, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Your own predecessor, the king, did this because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and perception, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems.  Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation.” Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah?  

I’ve heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems.

Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else;  however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him. Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty,  greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.  

Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages  were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant,  he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him.  

He was driven away from people,  his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys,  he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it.

“But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart,  even though you knew all this. Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them,  you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. 

But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life.   

Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed. “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

This is the interpretation of the message: MENE  means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. TEKEL  means that you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient. PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck,  and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed,   and Darius the Mede  received the kingdom at the age of 62.

Trust in God, not man.

The battle battle raging around us is real, dangerous and destroys lives and families everyday, it is a spiritual battle that has been raging against God and His children since the beginning.

It is a battle nevertheless that we fight from victory , not for victory we don't need to engage in our flesh only in Spirit, The Holy Spirit, it is time we stood only on the truths of God word and works in our lives and be steadfast and immovable.

C.S Lewis said this during WWII "The anti - Christian forces that are destroying the west from within are paralleled by the Nazis who threaten it from without. The sins of the democracies are very great. But very likely,those of the totalitarian states are even greater."

Don't look to man for answers, look to God.

Ephesians 6:12-18 HCSB
For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.