Are you one of them??

Today billions of people will attend worship services across this world, most of them seeking God.

  Everyone one of them inperfect and struggling somewhere or somehow in their lives. What they know and have peace with is this ;God is with them, God is for them and God will help them through their struggles.
  It is not that we have perfected life, we have learned to submit to and trust our Creator, God almighty in all things.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 ESV

Thus says the Lord : “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord .   He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.   “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord , whose trust is the Lord .   He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?   “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Stop competing with Christ,

We need to learn to do all things for the cause of Christ, our job is to Love Jesus and those around us, and then make disciples of those God has surrounded us with, whether your a Pastor, teacher or layman , (we all are at least one of these.) This is your mission.

  And God in His infinite mercy and timing has put you where you are . Whether you're speaking to 1 or 1000 be satisfied in Christ. Do not fret over what others do, but do what God has called you to do and do it where He put you.

John the baptist had the right heart, see how he responded when others came to him and said Jesus is baptizing more than you.

John 3:25-30 ESV

Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

We are not in a competition with Jesus or others, we are simply to serve Jesus out of love. If we want to live a life of abundance and satisfaction,it can only be found in Christ alone.

Will you stand?

More and more we see religious institutions cave to the call of the liberals agenda, giving way to mockery of Jesus Christ.

The liberals cry out what those who crucified Christ did in "Mark 15:30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” and the false teachers cave and come down to be embraced by society and turn their back on Christ.

But those who follow Christ understand that we willingly take up His cross and stand firm in our faith, we will not, we can not buckle under social pressure and renounce the cause of Christ.

The issues are not social issues that plague our world, the issue is the cross of Christ is offensive, because it calls out man for what he is a sinner who is damned if he refuses to believe in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Oh if man would simply repent, believe and follow Christ the world would live in harmony, but there are to many agendas going on in the wicked hearts of man to focus on the only who can save us all.

Colossians 2:6-15 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

I urge you to stand with me and billions of others as stand firm in our faith.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

The poison of knowledge's power

America we have a problem,a God problem we have fallen for the same lie the devil used upon Eve that surely we would not die once we ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

If we as believers have an accurate picture of God then that will lead to a life of holiness : as a matter of fact that  is vital to everything. AW Tozer said this all the problems of heaven and earth, though they were to confront us together and at once, would be nothing compared with that overwhelming problem of God: that He is: what He is like: and what we as moral beings must do about Him".

We pursue knowledge believing that knowledge is power believing we will be like God because we know all things, we have been deceived ,need I remind you of the most knowledgeable and wisest of all cultures have been destroyed by their pursuit of knowledge and power, Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome ,Europe, Germany, all have fallen to the wayside.

Each had more knowledge than the other, yet today they are but shadows of their former greatness.

We have knowledge today at our fingertips a click away you can know just about anything, but yet we are far from the truth we are far from God our creator we believe our selves to be gods.

Genesis 3:1-7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Romans 1:21-30, 32 ESV

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Why do we even pray?

Why do we pray, when we do not want to change our ways, unless we; who are called by His name intend to reform we might as well not even pray for revival. Unless we have the insight and faith to amend our whole way of life we waste our time on fruitless prayer, as we bring our useless sacrifices to God saying, look Lord what we bring to you revive us!

We cry for but then we live in partial disobedience in a moral climate of acceptability of Hollywood morals : Oh church wake up!

See what God has said to prophets of old ,the same word He spoke to them He speaks to us today. God's wrath will come, He waited 400 years after He decimated Israel to send Jesus, we have received the word of truth, but ignore Him like they did.

Isaiah 1:2-7, 9-20 HCSB

Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: “I have raised children  and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feeding trough, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” Oh sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have abandoned  the Lord ; they have despised  the Holy One of Israel; they have turned their backs on Him. Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick. From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured  — wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil. Your land is desolate, your cities burned with fire; foreigners devour your fields before your very eyes — a desolation demolished by foreigners. If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would resemble Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord , you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! “What are all your sacrifices to Me? ” asks the Lord . “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. When you come to appear before Me, who requires this from you — this trampling of My courts? Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies  — I cannot stand iniquity  with a festival. I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to Me; I am tired of putting up with them. When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. “Come, let us discuss this,” says the Lord . “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Confidence in Christ alone

Have you ever been so self confident that you cross the line into arrogance? I have, and it is a line I try to avoid always, I do not like myself when I cross it.

Today in the world we live in there are billions of people put on this planet, not one of us chose where we would be born, not one of us chose our skin color, not one of us chose our families, or circumstances we grew up in.

Our lives were and are governed by the hands of God, there is not a blink of an eye that He is not aware of.

When we humble ourselves and come to this realization we understand our mortality, our fallibility and our need for God's divine sovereignty in and over our lives.

Knowing that we can screw up and find grace in Jesus Christ, because God the Father sent Him to us because of our weakness in our flesh, knowing we could no better save ourselves from sin and death than we could choose where and who we are born to.

We are weak and needy people, and finding our hope in Christ’s grace is what marks a mature relationship. The most dangerous aspect of our relationships is not our weakness, but our delusions of strength in ourselves.

Our strength, our hope, our confidence, our peace, our prosperity our lives, our future's, our past, our salvation belongs to the Lord. We are and always will be in His hands. Let your weakness become strength in Christ alone.

Psalms 46:1-11 HCSB

God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah There is a river — its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High. God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns. Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah Come, see the works of the Lord , who brings devastation on the earth. He makes wars cease throughout the earth. He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces; He burns up the chariots.   “Stop your fighting — and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” Yahweh of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

Psalms 121:1-8 HCSB

I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.   The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.

Psalms 146:1-10 HCSB

Hallelujah! My soul, praise the Lord . I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live. Do not trust in nobles, in man, who cannot save. When his breath  leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die. Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry. The Lord frees prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are oppressed.   The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects foreigners and helps the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever; Zion, your God reigns for all generations. Hallelujah!

Living a life in the power of love

When we learn to live for our Lord Jesus from a stand point of love ;we will understand that our relationship with Him is not based on what we do, but how much Jesus loves us.

We get trapped in doing something to be loved many of us get caught here, when this happens our motives get skewed. And we focus on ourselves instead of Jesus.

God can never love you more than He did when He sent Jesus to live amongst us, and take our punishment for our sins,

Romans 5:6-8 HCSB

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment,  Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves  His own love for us  in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

Do not let the enemy confuse you with noise, listen for the voice of God, He loves you, He always has loved you, and if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth and call upon Him you shall be saved.

Start living today knowing you're already loved and cannot earn God's love you just need to accept it. Humble yourself and submit your life to Him.

1 Peter 5:6-11 HCSB

Humble  yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand  of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,   casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you. Be serious!  Be alert!  Your adversary the Devil  is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him  and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory  in Christ Jesus, will personally  restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.   The dominion  belongs to Him forever.  Amen.