Category Archives: Church

Thanksgiving – The Holiday and Every Day

25 Wednesday Nov 2020

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In the United States, Thanksgiving has become a staple among many traditions that involve celebrating life, freedom, family, and friends. It is a national holiday that was firmly established by Congress on December 26, 1941. Since the day it was legislated, Americans have celebrated this holiday by gathering with family and friends to give thanks.

The earliest remnants of Thanksgiving was by some historical accounts established in 1621, when Plymouth settlers (also known as Pilgrims) celebrated a successful season of harvest by having what was known as a ‘harvest feast.’ The Pilgrims celebrated at Plymouth for three days after their harvest.

In today’s time, Thanksgiving is not only an American event, but other countries celebrate the holiday as well. If we take a moment to think about all that we have, we can all find something to be thankful for. From the Biblical standpoint, there are verses that points to the concept of thanksgiving.

Psalm 7:17 “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
    I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”

Psalm 9:1 “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.“

Thanksgiving is more than just a designated holiday, and it is not just to be relegated to being thankful for food, shelter, friends, and family. All of these things are important, but God desires that we show thanksgiving to Him for all that He has done for us. The loving kindness of God the Father was shown to us by sending Jesus to die on the Cross at Calvary. Without the bloodshed of Jesus and His resurrection, humanity would be eternally lost due to the penalty of sin that we all owe.

The concept of thanksgiving is also not meant to be isolated to one day each year. Rather, we can and ought to give thanks every day because there is at least one thing that we can be thankful for. Even when life does not lend itself to provide everything that we want, there are many examples that we can look to with gratitude.

We should give thanks unto the Lord for His many blessings, and this starts with having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus in the pardon of your sins? If not, you can receive eternal life through Christ by repenting of your sins, acknowledging the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Then, you actively turn from your sins and embrace the new life that the Lord gives.

Let each day be a day of thanks unto God for all that He has done and continues to do. We can also be thankful for what we have, and who we are connected to. Be thankful today, and every day because there are many things we can point to. Give thanks.

Which Path Will You Take?

24 Tuesday Nov 2020

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious, Spiritual

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In life, we all have choices to make. From what we wear when we get dressed in the morning, to the decision of what to eat for breakfast. We even have the choice of skipping breakfast altogether, but we all have choices. There are monumental choices that can alter our destiny if we choose correctly or incorrectly. One can think of life as a summary of decisions, but even at a much deeper level, there are moments when we have two options set before us.

There are right and wrong choices that can be made in life. Depending on which way one chooses, the end result is the sum or total of what decision was made. The world around us would have us to believe that there isn’t just one way to reach the truth. While yes, there are multiple ways to live or exist, Jesus Christ made it clear in John 14:16 when he said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

There are different religions, belief systems, and even movements that center around non-belief. For thousands of years, there have been countless examples of a wide array of beliefs that encompass the ideology that there isn’t just one way to reach eternal life – or the very aspect of achieving an ultimate end. Rather, the worldwide belief is that all ways can lead to the truth, rather than as Jesus said that He is the truth, the way, and the life.

When Jesus made that statement according to John 14:16, He meant it just as He said it. The only way to receive life (in this context eternal life) is only through Jesus Himself. He is the truth, the way, and the life and the only way to know God is to know Jesus Christ. Many secular humanists and otherwise contend that all roads lead to the truth. Or, truth is what you make it to be, rather than it being concrete.

However, regardless of what a person or a group of people believes, there are only two choices. This fact is outlined in Matthew 7:13-14 which says:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. “

There are two choices that we as humans have set before us. We can take the narrow gate which is the way of Jesus Christ, or we can take the broad gate which is the way to Hell and destruction. The right path is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The wrong path is to reject Him. The Bible makes it clear that most travel on the path that is broad, and that is because it is easier and more enticing. However, the path to everlasting life is narrow, meaning few people travel that path because it is harder and less appealing.

The overall point here, is that you and I, we have an opportunity to choose life or destruction. Will you choose the path that leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ? Or will you choose the path that leads to eternal damnation by rejecting Christ? Belief systems come and go, and trends in our world always change. However, it is the truth of Jesus Christ that remains.

If you don’t know Jesus in the pardon of your sins, this is a perfect opportunity to accept the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross by repenting, believing that Jesus rose again, and accepting His love. Which path will you choose?

Death by Pride – The Consequences of Ignoring Your Sin

14 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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Have you ever given someone a piece of advice that would have proven to be beneficial and yet the individual scoffed and ignored your words? If so, you might have noticed that at some point the individual who chose to ignore you ended up in a situation that would have been avoided had they listened to your advice. It is the ignorance of a matter that often causes much of the blunders in our lives and even throughout our world. Time and time again, there are warnings that resound in our life and yet such warnings are not taken seriously.

The reason why is because of the element called ‘pride.’ Pride in its most basic definition is the disposition of self-sufficiency. It is to hold to the belief that you know what is best rather than seeing another person’s point of view. In our world today, the element of pride has taken root, more so now than ever. We live in a world in which the very essence of existence is now surrounded by secular humanism or better known as ‘human pride.’ If you look at various television commercials, you will notice that there has been an increase in the rise of human innovation with a focus on technology.

Essentially this means, many are now looking within themselves for inventive ideas rather than recognizing that we as humans do not have the intellectual capacity to do or invent without the direction and power of God. In the book of Proverbs chapter 16, the topic of pride is addressed. Throughout the book of Proverbs, pride and Godly wisdom are mentioned multiple times because King Solomon who was the writer of Proverbs, wanted the reader to understand that a life that is ruled by pride rather than wisdom is a life that is destined for failure.

Proverbs chapter 16 verses 1-5 says the following:

(NLV) “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the thoughts of the heart. Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well. The Lord has made all things for His own plans, even the sinful for the day of trouble. Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.”

In this scripture, the first thing we can extract is that we as humans suffer from pride because it is within our very nature. In the first part of verse 2 King Solomon says “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes” which is meant to suggest that naturally because of our sinful nature, we are more self-reliant rather than reliant upon God. So, in the very heart of you and I is where pride exists. However, it is through the remission of sin and acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice that our prideful nature is altered.

When you and I make the decision to surrender our life unto God through Christ, we are laying down our pride and our own way of living. If you look at our world you can see the consequences which are born out of pride. Many see their way of living as ‘pure’ just as the scripture says in Proverbs chapter 16. Essentially, many ignore their sin because they are spiritually blind to their sin in addition to being resistant to the spiritual things of God.

The lawlessness and the consequences that come with an abundance of sin is based on humanity’s willingness to embrace human pride. If you read further into Proverbs chapter 16 you will see that there is evidence of what happens when pride reigns in the life of a person who chooses not to submit to God.

Verse 5:

(NLV) “Everyone who is proud in heart is a shame to the Lord. For sure, that one will be punished.”

Another translation of the Bible which is the English Standard Version (ESV) uses the word ‘abomination’ rather than shame. In God’s view, it is abominable or shameful for we as humans to operate in our own pride. The reason is because pride is rooted in selfishness which means that God does not have the freedom to reign in our lives. Pride is one of the many sins that were passed down from Adam & Eve unto us as we were born into this world. It is the person who is prideful who does not repent before God. They believe that their actions are not sinful but rather their actions are in purity.

However, our world shows us the very things that occur when each generation operates in blatant un-repentance and pride. Why is it that there is so much gun violence that is occurring in America? Why is it that countries around the world are experiencing governmental upheaval and economic uncertainty? One of the main symptoms is human pride. There is such a concentration on how ‘we’ as humans can build our own empires and solve our own problems.

However, every time we think that we can operate separately from God it becomes a reality that not only is God displeased with us, but that He leaves us to our own devices which usually means demise. King Solomon says that the person who is proud is the person who will meet punishment from God. Another verse confirms this notion.

Verse 18:

(NLV) “Pride comes before being destroyed and a proud spirit comes before a fall.”

The ultimate ending for a person who is prideful and ignores their sin is destruction. There are many who are given the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior, and yet they ignore the call of God unto Himself through repentance. It is the proud person who says, ‘I am a good person.’ or ‘What I do isn’t that bad.’ However, the actions and words of a person can tell you just what is in their heart. Many have forsaken the ways of the Lord in exchange for their sinfulness. Most don’t want anyone to tell them how to live their own life. Many want to be unaccountable, but the truth is, on the day of judgment, God will give every person what they deserve.

However, you have an opportunity to avoid the penalty that comes with living in sin. Verse 6 of Proverbs chapter 16 says,

(NLV) “Sin has been paid for by loving-kindness and truth. The fear of the Lord keeps one away from sin.”

King Solomon says that your sin and my sin has already been paid for by God’s loving-kindness and His truth. The way that this has occurred is through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is sufficient to remove the stain of your sin, however, you must be willing to take God’s way out to be saved. Secondly, there must be a fear of the Lord. ‘Fear’ also means reverence in this context. Many (even those who claim Christianity) continue to operate in sinful behavior because they don’t fear God.

Without a reverential disposition towards God then you will believe that your own standard is what brings salvation and the solution to life’s problems. However, God wants you and I to come to Him to lay down our pride. The term ‘death by pride’ essentially means that both a spiritual and physical destruction result from a life steeped in pride. If you don’t believe that it can happen to you, simply peer through the windows of our society and notice how immoral and godless humanity has become. In fact, if you decide to reject God’s decrees and embrace a prideful stance, then you will personally see the negative results.

Humanity has become its own undoing, however, the solution is Jesus Christ. If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord & Savior, today is the day to relinquish your pride. God wants to know you and He wants to be your lifeline through Christ in these uncertain times. Pride runs rampant in our society, but the remedy to such pride is to bow down in humility before Jesus Christ. Only in doing so will you experience true freedom and the answer to life’s challenges.

God Wants a Relationship With You Instead of Organized Religion

08 Friday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love

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The term “Christianity” has been dubbed as one of the world’s most dominant religions or religious affiliations.  By societal standards, it is classified as a religion just as Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism.  For centuries, many have seen Christianity through the eyes of religious works and a set of church rules and regulations.  However, religion or religious activity is not something that should be named among Christians.

If we look back at the very beginning of human creation, God had a relationship with Adam & Eve because He was with them in the Garden of Eden. God desires to have a relationship with every human being.  It is the essence of communing with God through prayer, worship, and reading of His Holy word.  There are examples of those in the Bible who had an authentic relationship with God.  One example being that of Moses:

In Exodus 33, Moses is tasked with telling the Israelites of God’s displeasure with them.  While God spoke of His promise which was to give the Israelites the land which had been promised to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, He also showed displeasure with their sin.  In verse 5, God calls the Israelites a “Stiff necked people” meaning that they were living in sin and disobedience. God gives Moses a command to tell the Israelites to go to the land flowing of Milk and Honey (verse 3) but God also warns that if they go, He may not protect them from the enemies on the path to the Promised Land because of their sinfulness. Going further into Exodus 33, we can see that Moses and God have a conversation, and Moses ultimately asks to see God’s physical presence:

The first part of verse 11 says: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”

In verses 12-17 it says:

“Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

The key part of those verses involved God’s statement “I know you by name”.  This suggests that because Moses and God already had a relationship, that Moses was known by God.  Another examination of this text involves Moses asking the question about being distinguished (different) from everyone else on the face of the Earth.  Essentially, it is God’s presence that creates a difference in the life of every believer.  Having a relationship with God and abiding in His presence creates a separation from the world.

One final point to make about Moses and God’s relationship is that in verses 18-24, Moses asks to see the Glory of God.  However, because God is so powerful He cannot show humanity His face, so instead Moses sees the backside of God.

What can be noted based on the account of Moses and God, is that Moses had an authentic relationship and encounter with God.  That is what many Christians should be experiencing. The world views Christianity as a religion in part, because many have lived their lives as such.  Religion suggests that there is a specific pattern or way of operating. However, relationship involves an actual encounter with someone which means that there is openness in communication and daily living.

Religion only appeases those who are living based on rules or rituals.  While God gives every believer a set of expectations and commands to live by, God does not want us to live by a legalistic approach.  Organized religions live based on legalism which means that there is a strict adherence to law based on behaviors.  In Colossians 2: 20-23, the Apostle Paul actually discourages legalism in the body of Christ:

“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” 

The key difference between legalism and relationship is that having a relationship with God, automatically alters your behaviors because your heart becomes more like God’s. If you are operating out of a human based system of living, then your behaviors will be changed without having a change within your heart.  That is something God does through relationship.

The lesson that we can learn from Moses is that we must actively pursue God for His presence.  The way to escape the entrapment of religiosity or religious practices, is to understand that God wants to know you and be known by you.  How does that happen? Through daily prayer and an earnest worship unto God. Talking to God is like talking to another human being.  If you don’t have active communication with your friends or family, then the relationship dies.  Or if you don’t communicate with someone you don’t know, you don’t have access to who they are.

God wants to reveal Himself to every human being.  However, He won’t badger or force you into a relationship with Him.  God desires that we love Him for who He is – not through the motions of religion or rituals.  However, through actual daily encounters with God.  The world has some of their accusations correct in that, Christianity has become a religion.  Unfortunately many churches have bought into that claim.

However, true Christianity isn’t a religion, but it is a collective and individual body of believers who have chosen to seek after the things of God. The purpose for gathering in a corporate setting weekly, is to add strength between fellow believers, and to increase accountability in your walk with the Lord.  If you want to be distinguished from the world as Moses desired, then seek after God.  He gives you an opportunity to have a better life, and a relationship that surpasses anything you can even imagine.

Living Water to Satisfy Your Thirsty Soul

08 Friday May 2015

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ID-10054397H20 or most commonly known as water, is an essential source of nourishment and refreshment to quench one’s thirst. Have you ever felt so thirsty, that you were immediately refreshed and rejuvenated after drinking a glass or bottle of water?  Since our body is more than 60% water, it is imperative that we all drink daily to avoid dehydration.  Even as it relates to plant life, water is a necessary source in order to live.  It is the element of nature that represents life and wellness.

However, even spiritually the concept of water can be examined through the term, “Living Water”. In the book of John 4: 1-15, Jesus and a Samaritan woman are having a conversation at a well. He asks her in verse 7 to give Him a drink.  However in verses 9-10, she says that she is a Samaritan and points out that Jesus is a Jew.  At that time period, Samaritans were seen as less than or inferior because of their heritage, being that they were “biracial” (Samaritans were of Jewish and Pagan ancestry). So, because of this, it was uncommon and discouraged for Samaritans to associate with Jews. Of course, to Jesus this did not matter – so they have a dialogue in the following verses of John 4: 10-13:

“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

What Jesus is offering to the Samaritan woman, is much greater than what she was searching for.  The Samaritan woman was thirsty in the physical, but there was an obvious need, spiritually.  Jesus understood that the Samaritan woman was not whole but rather she was spiritually dehydrated.  Thus he uses the term, “Living Water” which meant that Jesus himself provides the nourishment that satisfies eternally.  Jesus says in verse 14 “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus provides the living water that you and I need, in order to be whole and satisfied. 

Often times in our society, there are so many distractions and temptations that we are bombarded with.  Daily, the media pushes the “latest and greatest” devices that are “must haves”.  As a result, many buy into what is promoted, because they are searching to be satisfied and fulfilled in what the world has to offer.  However, as the scripture says in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” God desires that we seek Him to be filled, because in and of ourselves, we are empty.

Jesus has made Living Water available to each individual that is thirsty for it. What is the Living Water?  The Living Water is the the presence of God which not only gives us peace, but satisfaction.  Just as there is refreshment when we drink natural water, there is a refreshment that surpasses all understanding when we are in God’s presence.  Once we have tasted of God’s presence and the Holy Spirit, then the temporary things of this world will no longer matter.

Money, sex, drugs, and other trappings which are promoted in our sin filled world, lead to a life of ruin and malnourishment.  Our soul is meant to be satisfied by God, because we were made in His image. We were made and created to worship God.  However, it is the sin that cuts the tie between God and humanity. Satan will never tell you the damage that can be and will be done if you are constantly seeking after the things of this world.  1 John 2:15 admonishes us not to love the things of this world.  The reason is because Galatians 6:8 says that if we sow to our flesh, we will reap corruption or death.  This is both a spiritual and physical death.

Christ provides the life that we are all in need of.  As Jesus said in John 14:6,  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Jesus Christ offers each individual the opportunity to have life and to have it in abundance. Seeking after the riches of this world, and temporary satisfaction will always leave you dry.  A life in Christ, is what will institute a healthy and nourished way of living.  Are you thirsty?  Do you find yourself unfulfilled and wandering from place to place to seek peace?

If so, then you are in need of the Living Water.  The Living Water is what God provides through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ is the one who bled and died for you so that you would never thirst again.  The reason that the world groans and writhes in discontentment is because those in the world, do not have the Living Water.  They are partaking of a well that runs dry.  The well of life, the spring of life, is the one place that will bring healing and everlasting joy.  That place, can only be found in Jesus Christ.  So, if you find yourself thirsting, take a drink of the Living Water and you will find that you shall never thirst again.

Being Alert to the Signs of the End Times

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious

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ID-100297350The world that we live in has and continues to change constantly as each day passes. Day after day, year after year, and decade after decade, brings with it the ever closer coming of Jesus Christ.  Some call it, “The End of the World.”  While others use the phrase, “The End Times”  or “The Last Days” to describe the intensity and the actual events that are associated with the 2nd coming of Christ.  Jesus Christ came during what is known as “the first advent” which is the first coming.  The first advent signified Christ being born, his death, burial, and resurrection.

According to Acts 1: 9-12, Jesus ascends to Heaven after He gives instructions to the 12 Disciples.  However, in the entire chapter of Matthew 24, Jesus tells His Disciples of various signs of the end of time as we know it to be.  The signs given will eventually lead to “the second advent” or the second coming of Jesus Christ.  What are the signs of the times?  How do they correlate to what is happening today?  First, let’s look at key areas to determine just how critical today’s time has become:

1. The Increasing wickedness of humanity – 

2 Timothy 3: 1-7 says the following:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

If you read that entire passage, isn’t it startling at just how true much of that is today? Certainly, we have seen perilous times in the past, but the truth is that what we are seeing from today’s generation is far worse than in years and even centuries past. There are various examples of the moral decay that has taken root in not only America but around the world. Onlookers who watch the tragedies that take place in their own neighborhood, city, and state are attempting to answer the proverbial question, “Why is this happening?” The answer lies in the scripture above, which states that the last days shall bring perilous times.

Even in America, laws have become established which are now enforcing the blatant sin that was once thought to be detestable in the eyes of God.  All around the world violence is increasing, because of how close we are to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Of course, the Bible makes it clear in Matthew 24 that no one knows the exact time period, but the intensity of the sinfulness is an indicator that points to just how close we are coming to the end of this age.

2. Natural disasters will grow in severity – 

In the latter part of verse 7 in Matthew 24, it says, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” On April 25th, 2015 an Earthquake struck Nepal, killing over 7,000 individuals.  The key number is, over 7,000.  This was a tragedy that many scientists conclude that they saw coming – however, the fact that over 7,000 individuals would perish over a few days span says that we are seeing a major sign of the imminence of Jesus Christ’s return. Even as you read this, there has been recent tornado activity, flooding, and severe thunderstorms that have taken place in the state of Oklahoma.  Daily there are examples of natural disasters which intensify each time it occurs. Some would argue that we have always had severe weather, but what is known is that as each year passes, the severity increases. Part of it is also due to the damage that humanity’s sinfulness has done to the Earth.  God called humanity to have dominion or rule over the Earth, but to do so with honor and respect by being a good steward over the Earth’s resources.

3. Technology use and its influence – 

In Daniel chapter 12, there is also a scriptural reference to the end times. Daniel 12 says,

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

The key verse is verse 4 which says “Many will go here and there to increase knowledge”.  This means that in the last days as it was prophesied unto Daniel, that humanity will increase in knowledge. Over decades, we have seen technological advances that were once thought impossible.  Now, technology has inserted itself into just about every area of our lives.  However, it is this very aspect of life, that will be used to create a global system.  Mass surveillance, encrypting data, and tracking human whereabouts is a part of the plan to create a one-world order.  This is what will spur a one world currency that will be put into place so that the anti-christ will have control. (See these scriptures about the anti-christ – Revelation 13:13, 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4, Daniel 7:5) In the book of Revelation (Revelation 13: 16-17) the number 666 is given. In some way, technology will play a role in receiving the “mark of the beast” during what is known as the Tribulation period. However, the point is that technology, as it is being used today, plays a part in the signs of the end times.

As time continues onward, we will see these signs among others not listed which will intensify.  However, the main thing to be aware of is that it isn’t too late to gain safety in Jesus Christ.  Amidst all of the chaos, the growing control that world governments are seizing over its citizens, we who are in Christ have safety from the perilous times. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is still in the Earth, is an assurance in knowing that we can be protected from the evil times that we live in. Only in Christ, will you have ultimate victory and safety.  Be prepared by having your spiritual life assured, and knowing that there isn’t a safer place to be than in the hands of God.  For, the coming of Jesus Christ is nearing every single day.

Reaching Those In Darkness Through Jesus Christ

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious

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ID-100106138If you have ever sailed through a large body of water, you may have noticed that a device called a “lifesaver” is usually needed in the event of an emergency.  Within every commercial ship, lifesavers are available so that anyone who falls overboard, can be rescued from the danger of drowning.  Even lifeguards utilize these devices to assist in bringing a drowning person back to safety.  This device is meant to ensure safety, but to also ensure that the possibility of perishing is nonexistent.

Salvation as a concept can be essentially the same as using a lifesaver.  The truth is, all of us are in need of a savior.  John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  In this scripture, “The thief” refers to satan.  Satan desires to destroy all that is good, which also includes destroying and stealing life from humanity.  However, in this same scripture, Jesus says that He has come so that we might have life and have it to the full.  This means, that Jesus came, died and rose again so that you and I might live a life of abundance.

The message of salvation is one of redemption.  It is the redemptive power of Jesus Christ which gives everyone an opportunity to know God, and to be rescued from our sin.  It is our sinful nature that separates us from having a relationship with God. According to Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul is saying that the penalty of sin is death, but not just a physical death but a spiritual death.  When we as humans are not in Christ, we are dead, spiritually.  However, the latter part of that verse says, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ.  To be in Christ, is to have life which not only includes physical life but spiritual life.

When it comes to reaching those who are in darkness, it is the duty of every Christian to actively pursue the message of Jesus Christ.  In thinking about the example of a lifesaver, Christ is the lifesaver for humanity.  Sin and worldliness represent the thrashing waves of an ocean.  It also represents the depth of the water which if one does not have a lifesaver, they will likely drown unless they are able to swim.  However, if you are not in Christ and you have not experienced salvation, then you cannot swim in the depths of a decaying world.

All around us, there is a steady display of a world that is perishing in decadence. If you were to turn on your local or national news, you would see murder, threats of terrorism, weather-related tragedies, immoral and ungodly behavior.  Not only are the very things we see absolute signs of the coming of Jesus Christ (Read Matthew 24) but these are behaviors and occurrences which are based in sin. The very things that you and I see, is a result of a wicked and perverse generation.

However, the good news is that Jesus Christ is the remedy.  He is the lifesaver because he addresses our need for a savior. The purpose of the body of Christ is not merely to exist as a collection of believers.  However, it is to pursue those who are in their sin to provide them with the “lifesaver” which is Christ.  In Mark 16:15 it says, “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Jesus was speaking to the 12 Disciples when he gave them a charge to spread the good news unto all of the world.  That same call to the Disciples is the same call that every Christian has upon salvation, and that is to spread the good news. What is the “good news”?

The good news is that Jesus Christ came and has given humanity an alternative to Hell and destruction.  Even as it relates to daily living, a life in Christ is more productive than a life without Him.  God wishes that no man perish as it says in 2 Peter 3:9.  We who are in Christ, have the awesome responsibility of sharing God’s love with what we say, and how we live.

For those of you who are not in Christ, you can know what true love is by accepting Jesus as your savior.  It is your sin that separates you from truly knowing God.  Before you take your last breath, you can know where your destination will be after this life.  Will it be in the presence of a Holy God where there will be rest and safety?  Or will it be in Hell which is a place of darkness, anguish and separation from a loving God?  No one has to leave this Earth to perish.  The choice is up to each individual.  However, even we who are Christians must demonstrate and spread the message of Jesus.  God loves each person so much, that He gave his son Jesus Christ to take our sin and exonerate us from wrongdoing. The lifesaver is available to all.  Spread the message of God’s saving grace, or if you haven’t already, accept the gift of salvation that is readily available to you.

The Salt of the Earth

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious

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ID-100311902Salt is a mineral that can be used in multiple ways.  For example, most who desire added flavor to their food will usually add salt within or on the content of what they are consuming. Salt in its most basic purpose can be used to add to something which acts as an enhancement.  Whether it be to add salt to french fries, soup, or any sort of fish or poultry, salt is designed to incorporate an added touch to what would otherwise be bland in taste.  As it regards food, salt can also be used as a preservative which slows the process of spoiling. However, salt does not just exist for the purpose of added flavor or preservation – it can also be used for medicinal purposes.

For centuries, salt has been used to cleanse or purify any wounds sustained by an injury. When salt comes into contact with an open wound, it acts as a sanitizing agent which will eventually bring healing to the wound.  Though the initial contact will produce pain, the reward will be that of a wound that will not only heal but infection becomes less likely to occur.  Even before the modern age of technology in conjunction with medicine, salt was and continues to be a simple form of medication.  Just as salt is meant to add flavor in addition to being a healing agent, the Bible makes it clear that every Christian is, “The salt of the Earth.”  What does this phrase mean?

The first part of Matthew 5:13 says, “You are the salt of the Earth.”  In that scripture, Jesus was speaking to those who are Christ followers or those who have chosen to align themselves with God through Jesus Christ.  Jesus says that all Christians are the salt of the Earth. Metaphorically speaking, Jesus was saying that we who are truly called and are followers of Christ are the additives or the changing agents in this broken and sin filled world.  All Christians are meant to make a visible and lasting difference in the world we live in.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 says, “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.” This means, that we who are Christians are to be different from the world. The whole point of being a Christian or a Christ follower is to be separated from the world because we are called out of darkness. To be the salt of the earth, it means that the life of every Christian is to affect and infect the world with the light and love of Jesus Christ.  As the Apostle Paul said in the scripture above, we who are Christians are children of the light and children of the day. There should be a delineation between those in Christ, and those in the world.  If there isn’t a visible difference between the two sides, then here is what will happen:

The rest of Matthew 5:13 says, “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Jesus is saying (metaphorically) that if the salt loses its saltiness, then it is rendered ineffective.  This can be applied to the life of every believer.  If Christians are no longer living as “the salt of the Earth” but rather aligning with the ways of this world, then we as a body of believers are no longer effective.

How many times have you witnessed or heard of corruption within church structures? Pastors that have swindled the money that is freely given by their congregation.  Or church members that have shown grace and mercy on Sunday morning, but the rest of the week they live as if their confession is the complete opposite.  In so many words, what many in the world have seen is hypocrisy.  This is not to say that there is a perfect church, or that you or I do not make mistakes.  However, Jesus gives us clear meaning to the “salt of the Earth” statement.

He says that we are the salt of the Earth, which means once we have accepted Christ and received the Holy Spirit, we are then endowed with the ability to bring healing and change to the world, through the power of God. The sad thing about many churches today is that religion and even carnality has become incorporated into what was and is supposed to be a sanctified body of believers.  Many have made a mockery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, believing that it is permissible to live in sin, and yet name the name of Jesus Christ.  That is not what God has called Christians to do.

Matthew 5:14-16 continues with, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Every Christian who is truly blood washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and who has made a commitment to follow Christ, is the light of the world.  We carry the light of Christ with us if we are truly connected to God through Jesus.  Much of the world scoffs at Christianity in part, because there are many examples of hypocrisy and sinfulness within many churches worldwide.  How powerful would it be if the body of Christ understood the magnitude of our individual and corporate witness to a dark and dying world?  The message to the believer is, that you are the salt of the Earth.

Our lives are meant to be a testament of the love of God for a broken world.  The only way that this love can be shown is to follow God in obedience and to be separated from the things of this world.  Salt as a mineral is effective in its nature because it is uniquely different from other minerals and spices.  We as Christians should be different from the world.  Otherwise, if sin within our lives is acceptable, then what does the crucifixion of Christ mean?

Jesus died and rose again for every sinner.  All can be saved by accepting His sacrifice and confessing the sin that has been committed.  This is the gift of salvation for you and I.  It is available to all, but we who are already in Christ must give others a reason to see the glory of God in how we live and what we profess.

Just Who Is God Anyway?

06 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by in Christianity, Church, God, Inspiration, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Religion, Religious

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ID-10067092Throughout human history, there has been an ongoing debate about who God is, and whether or not He exists.  For centuries, men and women have discussed God in the context of belief or disbelief.  Even in today’s world there are various arguments and discussions as to the proof of God and His role within this world.  Who is God? What does God want from you and I as we live in this life?  Let’s look at this through God’s word so that we can see just who God is:

1. God is the creator – 

One of the most notable scriptures is that of Genesis 1:1 which says, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.”  First we see, that God was and is a creator.  God created both the Heavens and the Earth.  From the beginning of time and existence, God created.  In fact, God created the very essence of time and he even preexisted before time as we know it was formed. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  This means, that God existed before everything else, and even at the beginning He created.  God is a creator and the original inventor of life.  If you look further through the book of Genesis (Chapter 1) you will see that God created the animals, plant life, the sun, the moon, and the first two human beings which were male and female.  It is the genius of God that created order and life itself.

2. God is love – 

Just about every human being desires to know what true love is.  Some seek it in relationships, others seek love in the form of activity or even self-fulfilling pleasures.  Love from the stand-point of the world is usually rooted in fulfilling one’s need for closeness and affection.  However, God is the masterful example of what love is. Another notable verse and perhaps most quoted verse is John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  God loved you and I so much, that he gave His son Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice in order to break the chain of our sinful nature. Believe it or not, we were all born into sin upon coming into this world.  It was because of the sin which was introduced into the world by Adam & Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, that we were all born sinful. However, God’s alternate plan for humanity was to provide a sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus Christ shed his blood, died and rose again so that you could have everlasting life.  It was God’s love for you, that prompted the need for a sacrifice in Jesus Christ.  God’s love goes beyond who you are or what you have done.  He loves you and will always love you even when your life on Earth is complete.

3. God is Holy – 

The word “holy” is defined by Dictionary.com as the following:

  • specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated:
  • having a spiritually pure quality:
  • entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred:

God is holy because His very presence and power, demands credence, obedience, and exaltation.  There were many great leaders who have held esteemed positions.  Many have impacted history based on the role that they assumed and their individual greatness.  However, among all of the world leaders (living or dead) none of them can or could compare to the holiness that encompasses who God is.  In Exodus 15:11, Moses who was God’s chosen to lead the children of Israel out of captivity, uttered the following words: “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”  In chapter 15 of the book of Exodus, Moses and the children of Israel are recounting the many blessings and moments of victory that they experienced through God’s mighty works.  God is Holy which means, He deserves our reverence and our adoration.  No one can match or even rival His glory because He is alone is holy.

There are many more attributes and characteristics that describe who God is – however, to understand the above you must first come to know God through Jesus Christ for yourself.  God wants to have a personal relationship with you, but you must be willing to accept Jesus Christ as your savior.  All of us have sinned, which means none of us are immune to the penalty of sin.  However, by accepting Christ’s sacrifice and confessing your sins, that penalty is no longer punishable by death.  It was the death of Jesus Christ that paid for your punishment.  It is God’s love that drove Him to great lengths to redeem humanity.

Just who is God Anyway?  He is the one who loves you with an unending love. God desires to know you and for you to know Him.  All of the traits that were listed cannot be known if you or I don’t have a personal experience with Him. The invitation to know God for yourself is already available to you.  The world and those who choose to reject God will paint God as someone who isn’t love, or some sort of monster.  However, God is the complete opposite of what many have said.  Those who don’t know Him for themselves cannot truly say who God is or what He can do. It is a choice that everyone will have to make at some point and that is to find out who God is.  The best way to find out who God is, is to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and then God will reveal himself to you in prayer, worship, and in communion with Him.  Then and only then will the many attributes of God come alive in your life.