I can not begin to tell you how vital it is that you are a credible witness for Jesus Christ. The world has made a complete mockery of what it means to be a Christian. It is up to saints to re-define what it means to be a Christian according to the gospel of God. When you profess that you are a Christian, the world puts a microscope on your life to see what you do, how you act, and what you say.
When they see something that it contrary to what they believe a Christian is supposed be, it has detrimental affects. It then adds to the mockery and Christianity becomes a joke in their eyes. That is why your conduct, character, and commitment must be at the highest level at all times. When things in your life are wonderful, it is easy to be a Christian. The real question comes when times are difficult. For example, the gospel says that we are to be transformed from the world. That is easy when it is something you don't love or care about, but can you do it when it involves something that you cherish or love.
Whenever you feel yourself backsliding go to the hospital of Jesus, better known as 1John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." When Jesus died on the cross he forgave us for all of our sins whether they are transgressions or iniquities. God loves us with agape love and will never leave or forsake us, Hebrews 13:5.
When you are not a credible witness you disrupt 1.)plan of God, you force God to go to plan B. It shows God that you are not ready for the next progression and He can not bless you with the same favor. Stay on course so that you may receive plan A, which is God's best that He has for you. 2.) Yourself, you pick away at the relationship that you have with God. God is a jealous God and wants you to put him first at all times. 3. Others. They are looking to you to see Jesus. Since they may or may not know Jesus for themselves they are looking to you to see who He is. When they see falsehoods in you, they see falsehoods in Jesus.
Be a credible witness every day and seek the righteousness of the trinity in all that you say and do in your life.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Only God Can Judge
It is so critically important that we do not judge others. We have absolutely no idea of every experience or thought of anybody. Only God is all knowing. In Matthew 7:1-2, the Bible says,"Judge not, that you be not judged. For the judgement that you pronounce will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."
Each individual person must develop their own personal relationship with the trinity of God. When you judge others, then you are judged by the same measure if not more so than if you did not judge in the first place. In John 14:16, Jesus says," I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That simply means that Jesus is the only way to follow.
Jesus sits on the right hand of God and if God says that we are not to judge then we are not to judge. John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." God is commanding that you love others the way that he loved you. Going further in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 we are given the definition of what it means to love according to God."Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things."
There is absolutely no room for judgement when you obey God's commandment to love one another if you are really a born again, tongue speaking Christian then you can not judge others. In Romans 13:1, " Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. for there is no authority except from God, and those that have been instituted by God. Therefore who ever resists the authorities will incur judgement."
In conclusion, you have no right to judge others regardless of the circumstance or situation. Only God can judge. If you do so then others will judge you.
Each individual person must develop their own personal relationship with the trinity of God. When you judge others, then you are judged by the same measure if not more so than if you did not judge in the first place. In John 14:16, Jesus says," I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That simply means that Jesus is the only way to follow.
Jesus sits on the right hand of God and if God says that we are not to judge then we are not to judge. John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." God is commanding that you love others the way that he loved you. Going further in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 we are given the definition of what it means to love according to God."Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things."
There is absolutely no room for judgement when you obey God's commandment to love one another if you are really a born again, tongue speaking Christian then you can not judge others. In Romans 13:1, " Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. for there is no authority except from God, and those that have been instituted by God. Therefore who ever resists the authorities will incur judgement."
In conclusion, you have no right to judge others regardless of the circumstance or situation. Only God can judge. If you do so then others will judge you.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Have God Sized Dreams
We do not serve a small time God so why do we put limitations on our hopes and dreams for the future? God doesn't put limits on us. In the Bible we are taught in Philipians 4:13 that we can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthns me. So how dare we put limits on the power of God.
We need to stop asking for him to fulful our dreams and then put limits on it. We need to stop thinking that we are not good enough or smart enough to live whatever it is that we hope and desire to live. In Isaiah 55:11, the word of God says that His word does not come back void. When God created us in Genesis, he created us last because he was saving his best for last.
When we put limitations on ourselves we are giving the devil place in our lives. The devil wants us to believe that we are inferior and we can not live our best life. Stop giving the devil power. Matthew 6:24,You can only serve one master. In Matthew 6:8, "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." God knows you better than you know yourself so trust him at all times.
Trust God and delight yourself in God at all times and he will fulful the desires of your heart. Dream big, make big plans, there is nothing that is impossible for God. When you tell yourself that you can not do something, you are tellling God that he is not worthy. Quiting or failing is a permitted response. So do not quit. Give God the plan and let Him work his plan through His Holy Spirit.
When you short change yourself, you short change the power of God.
We need to stop asking for him to fulful our dreams and then put limits on it. We need to stop thinking that we are not good enough or smart enough to live whatever it is that we hope and desire to live. In Isaiah 55:11, the word of God says that His word does not come back void. When God created us in Genesis, he created us last because he was saving his best for last.
When we put limitations on ourselves we are giving the devil place in our lives. The devil wants us to believe that we are inferior and we can not live our best life. Stop giving the devil power. Matthew 6:24,You can only serve one master. In Matthew 6:8, "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." God knows you better than you know yourself so trust him at all times.
Trust God and delight yourself in God at all times and he will fulful the desires of your heart. Dream big, make big plans, there is nothing that is impossible for God. When you tell yourself that you can not do something, you are tellling God that he is not worthy. Quiting or failing is a permitted response. So do not quit. Give God the plan and let Him work his plan through His Holy Spirit.
When you short change yourself, you short change the power of God.
Friday, January 23, 2009
God Is Love
Love is something that the world has taken and twisted into something that is complete opposite of what God created love to mean. The world has turned love into something that is material and conditional. The world basically says that love is based on how someone else makes you feel or what they can do for you. They have placed a value on people that they claim to love. They have turned love into lust, attraction, and materialism, etc.
Love is something that is supposed to be unconditional and has nothing to do with lust and attraction. The principle of unconditional love is the most precious of all of the 7 spiritual principles taught in the Bible. Without unconditional love, none of the other 6 will prosper in your life, because it takes love to live by the other principles. In the Bible, love is Agape love. This is the love that God has for us. We are to love each other based on how much God loved us. In John 3:16 it teaches that God loved us so much that he gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and that we are to love others the way that He loved the church.
God knows how much we love Him by how much we love others. The question that you have to ask yourself is how can you love God who you can't see and not love your brothers and sisters that you see every day. This does not mean that you have to go to the ends of the earth for everyone that you come into contact with. It does mean that you should always want the best for others and respect them. This does not mean that you have to be a fool and be taken advantage of by people. However, it does mean that you don't wish evil on others. The Bible teaches that we are to pray for those that despitefully use us. Put it in God's hands.
When you have agape love in your life, your life will become full of love. You have to learn how to give love, before you can get love. If you love others then others will love you. Grow in love and as you grow in love you will grow in your relationship with God. Once this happens you will develop more and more in becoming one with Jesus Christ. As you do this you will begin to gain favor with God and open the door for Him to shower you with blessing after blessing. At times, you will be uncomfortable. God is not concerned with our uncomfortability. He has no respect to person. We must put our flesh under subjection and be obedient to Him at all times. Obedience is not a option. Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Light. God knows that your uncomfortability is only temporary and when it is time the Holy Spirit will move inside of you to direct and guide your path. Once you are steadfast, unshakeable, and unmoveable in your obedience to God, then he can fulfil the desires of your heart.
If you have been burned by love then that does not mean that you are not to love others. Love is not based on situations. It comes from spirit within you. If you have been hurt, then rest in knowing that the Holy Spirit will rest inside of you. The Holy Spirit will reveal, remove and then restore you. This means that as the Holy Spirit is revealing your hurt you will go through a period of pain, suffering, and confusion. As he removes, you will no longer have that pain, suffering, and confusion. Then He will restore and you will have peace, joy, happiness and know that only God can do it.
So in conclusion, put your trust in God and know that Jesus loved you so much that he died for your sins and that you have been forgiven.
God is love and love is God.
Love is something that is supposed to be unconditional and has nothing to do with lust and attraction. The principle of unconditional love is the most precious of all of the 7 spiritual principles taught in the Bible. Without unconditional love, none of the other 6 will prosper in your life, because it takes love to live by the other principles. In the Bible, love is Agape love. This is the love that God has for us. We are to love each other based on how much God loved us. In John 3:16 it teaches that God loved us so much that he gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and that we are to love others the way that He loved the church.
God knows how much we love Him by how much we love others. The question that you have to ask yourself is how can you love God who you can't see and not love your brothers and sisters that you see every day. This does not mean that you have to go to the ends of the earth for everyone that you come into contact with. It does mean that you should always want the best for others and respect them. This does not mean that you have to be a fool and be taken advantage of by people. However, it does mean that you don't wish evil on others. The Bible teaches that we are to pray for those that despitefully use us. Put it in God's hands.
When you have agape love in your life, your life will become full of love. You have to learn how to give love, before you can get love. If you love others then others will love you. Grow in love and as you grow in love you will grow in your relationship with God. Once this happens you will develop more and more in becoming one with Jesus Christ. As you do this you will begin to gain favor with God and open the door for Him to shower you with blessing after blessing. At times, you will be uncomfortable. God is not concerned with our uncomfortability. He has no respect to person. We must put our flesh under subjection and be obedient to Him at all times. Obedience is not a option. Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Light. God knows that your uncomfortability is only temporary and when it is time the Holy Spirit will move inside of you to direct and guide your path. Once you are steadfast, unshakeable, and unmoveable in your obedience to God, then he can fulfil the desires of your heart.
If you have been burned by love then that does not mean that you are not to love others. Love is not based on situations. It comes from spirit within you. If you have been hurt, then rest in knowing that the Holy Spirit will rest inside of you. The Holy Spirit will reveal, remove and then restore you. This means that as the Holy Spirit is revealing your hurt you will go through a period of pain, suffering, and confusion. As he removes, you will no longer have that pain, suffering, and confusion. Then He will restore and you will have peace, joy, happiness and know that only God can do it.
So in conclusion, put your trust in God and know that Jesus loved you so much that he died for your sins and that you have been forgiven.
God is love and love is God.
Seek God First
I can not begin to stress the importance of seeking a relationship with God first and foremost in everything that you do, say, think, feel, desire, or need. The Bible teachs that once we are obedient to Him and stay under His authority then He will fulfil all of the desires of our heart.
When we put anything or anyone above God, then it shows that we are not being obedient to His word. We can not serve two masters, it either has to be God or is it money, shopping, our spouse, children etc. It is critical that we do not place these above God.
God has no respect to person, therefore His word does not change. The gospel is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It does not change based on the circumstances of the situation. What God told the disciples, and others in the Bible is the same as what He is telling you right now today. It is up to you to apply what He said to your situation and/or circumstance.
There is nothing that you can do that has not already been done. What you have done has already been done by someone else. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin entered into man and woman. Therefore, it is important to know that we are genetically coded to have sin in us. The difference is whether or not we give into the flesh and commit the sin or if we punish it with the word of God and repent.
Develop a relationship with God and live everyday of your life to be the new creature in life that He created you to be. Understand that God can not err and therefore, He did not error when he created you. Put God first and stay under His authority at all times whether good or bad and He will fulfil all of your needs. Just remember to always keep your heart, mind, and spirit in line with the word of God.
When we put anything or anyone above God, then it shows that we are not being obedient to His word. We can not serve two masters, it either has to be God or is it money, shopping, our spouse, children etc. It is critical that we do not place these above God.
God has no respect to person, therefore His word does not change. The gospel is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It does not change based on the circumstances of the situation. What God told the disciples, and others in the Bible is the same as what He is telling you right now today. It is up to you to apply what He said to your situation and/or circumstance.
There is nothing that you can do that has not already been done. What you have done has already been done by someone else. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin entered into man and woman. Therefore, it is important to know that we are genetically coded to have sin in us. The difference is whether or not we give into the flesh and commit the sin or if we punish it with the word of God and repent.
Develop a relationship with God and live everyday of your life to be the new creature in life that He created you to be. Understand that God can not err and therefore, He did not error when he created you. Put God first and stay under His authority at all times whether good or bad and He will fulfil all of your needs. Just remember to always keep your heart, mind, and spirit in line with the word of God.
Uplift With Prayer
It is so unbelievably important that you pray at all times. Many people make the mistake of praying only when circumstances are in their favor. It is more important to pray at all times. It is easy to give all glory, honor, and praise when we are on the mountain top, but can we do it when we are in the valley.
The Bible teaches in Mark 11:22-24 says And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." This is so powerful, it is telling you that if you seek God and tell him your prayers and believe it in your heart then you will receive what ever it is that you are praying for.
So you may come back and say, "If God is all knowing and he is the one that created me then I should not have to say anything, he should already know." This is true and God is all knowing and yes, He did create you in the image of Jesus Christ. However it is also important for us to make our requests known. When you pray it makes it so that you can give a voice to it and not something abstract.
Habakkuk 2:2-3ays "Write the vision: make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time it hastens to the end-It will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Always give God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all of the praise, honor and glory first and foremost. Always know that God wants the absolute best for us while we are in the natural. That is why in John 3:16 He gave us his only begotten son Jesus Christ who sits on the right hand of the Father God. Let the Holy Spirit guide and direct your path.
Once you begin to pray keep a written record of your prayers. It is a wonderful way to go back and see how God has answered you. It shows you the almighty power of God. As we just learned in Mark 11, if we believe it without doubt it will come to pass. It may take a while, but God's word does not come back void and God does not lie.
We are to have all trust in God and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to trust without proof and without understanding. We are to seek God at all times.
Let the power of prayer move you closer to God.
The Bible teaches in Mark 11:22-24 says And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,Be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." This is so powerful, it is telling you that if you seek God and tell him your prayers and believe it in your heart then you will receive what ever it is that you are praying for.
So you may come back and say, "If God is all knowing and he is the one that created me then I should not have to say anything, he should already know." This is true and God is all knowing and yes, He did create you in the image of Jesus Christ. However it is also important for us to make our requests known. When you pray it makes it so that you can give a voice to it and not something abstract.
Habakkuk 2:2-3ays "Write the vision: make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time it hastens to the end-It will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Always give God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all of the praise, honor and glory first and foremost. Always know that God wants the absolute best for us while we are in the natural. That is why in John 3:16 He gave us his only begotten son Jesus Christ who sits on the right hand of the Father God. Let the Holy Spirit guide and direct your path.
Once you begin to pray keep a written record of your prayers. It is a wonderful way to go back and see how God has answered you. It shows you the almighty power of God. As we just learned in Mark 11, if we believe it without doubt it will come to pass. It may take a while, but God's word does not come back void and God does not lie.
We are to have all trust in God and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to trust without proof and without understanding. We are to seek God at all times.
Let the power of prayer move you closer to God.
Allow the Holy Spirit to Operate In Your Life
I can not begin to tell you how important it is that you allow the Holy Spirit into your life. Once you stand up at the alter and give your salvation,it is just the begining. In Isaiah 43:18, the Bible teaches that you must allow the Holy Spirit to come in. You have to be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your spirit. Let go of your past as you become a new creature in Christ as you renew your mind. As the scripture states, God will make rivers in the desert and ways in the wilderness and even the wild beasts will honor him. God has the answer to every problem, situation, circumstance, trial and tribulation that you can imagine in your wildest dreams. As long as you continue to live according to God, He will show you out of the wilderness.
When we allow our lives to be controlled by our emotions we are headed for disaster. Our emotions are a rollcoaster ride of ups and downs. God is not concerned with our emotions. God's word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It is unchanging. It is what it is and does not change. The word of the world has many gray areas and changes depending on the situation. There is no grey area when it comes to the word of God. The word is such that there is no question.
If you allow your emotions and intellect to control your mind then you will not be able to rightly divide what is true and what is false. You become subject to falsities, beguiling thoughts, false prophets, and give the devil a footing in your life. You must ask that the Holy Spirit to take over and speak to your spirit.
Once you do this,then the Holy Spirit will guide, direct, and teach you according to the word of God. Trust in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 55:8-9, the Bible teaches that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and God's ways are not our ways. Therefore, we are to keep God's thoughts and ways and not our own. We can only do this if we allow the Holy Spirit in to our lives. Isaiah 55:11 KJV So shall my word goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Trust in His word and remain steadfast in seeking a relationship with Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit in your life.
When we allow our lives to be controlled by our emotions we are headed for disaster. Our emotions are a rollcoaster ride of ups and downs. God is not concerned with our emotions. God's word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It is unchanging. It is what it is and does not change. The word of the world has many gray areas and changes depending on the situation. There is no grey area when it comes to the word of God. The word is such that there is no question.
If you allow your emotions and intellect to control your mind then you will not be able to rightly divide what is true and what is false. You become subject to falsities, beguiling thoughts, false prophets, and give the devil a footing in your life. You must ask that the Holy Spirit to take over and speak to your spirit.
Once you do this,then the Holy Spirit will guide, direct, and teach you according to the word of God. Trust in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 55:8-9, the Bible teaches that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and God's ways are not our ways. Therefore, we are to keep God's thoughts and ways and not our own. We can only do this if we allow the Holy Spirit in to our lives. Isaiah 55:11 KJV So shall my word goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Trust in His word and remain steadfast in seeking a relationship with Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit in your life.
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