Jesus is Lord!

Isaiah 43:10-13, 57:15
1.0 “But you are my witnesses, 0 Israel!” says the Lord. “And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be. 11 I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your deliverance; I declared what I would do, and then I did it-I saved you. No foreign god has ever done this before. You are witnesses that I am the only God, “says the Lord.” 13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do. No one can reverse my actions.” 15 The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Many people today are looking for immortality. They want to stay alive as long they can and be remembered long after they die. It’s too bad they do not realize that we are already immortal. Our souls will live on after we die and leave this world. What most people do not realize is that where the soul goes is decided by us in this world. Immortality begins when we are born and goes on forever. The decisions we make in this life will determine our forever. After we die, there will be no more deciding, forever begins. We have this guarantee from an eternal God. As we are immortal, God is eternal. He had no beginning and has no end. He is and always will be. From eternity to eternity God is God and there is no other. Our minds can not comprehend this truth. What we need to know is that this great God loves us puny humans so much, He sent a plan of escape from this world of sin by sending His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Now your forever is your decision. Will you spend it with Him or without Him?

Have A God Day!

Romans 8:12-16
12 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family calling him Father, dear Father. 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

Being lead by God is primary to our Christian walk. Many do not hear the voice of God within but only because they do know His voice. It is our privilege by being a child of God to be lead by Him. When we come to salvation our spirit is connected to the Spirit of God and we know that we know that we know that we are His. This is our spirit communicating with Him. This is being lead by the Spirit of God. All of His children are lead by Him. Psalm 23 2-3 tells us, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness.” All who are lead by the Spirit of God are His children. Connecting with God through prayer and reading His Word are one way we hear His leading within us. All are lead by Him and all will hear His voice. Jesus told us in John 10:3, “He goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” His Spirit speaks to all of His children deep in our hearts and we know His voice. This is great peace and joy because we are connected to our Lord. If you are not hearing the voice of God within you, stop and listen to what His Word tells you and believe His promise that all of His own are lead by Him.

Have a God Day!

Galatians 2:16-21
16 And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ-and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.” 17 But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! 18 Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

By nature we presume to seek salvation by our works. It seems contrary to our flesh to believe we can not. We want the control. If we could save ourselves by our own work and effort, we could take the credit because it is under our control and our power. We would be putting ourselves on the throne and this is the nature of mankind, to be in control. But the Word of God states it is offensive to Him for us to believe we can. Faith accepts God’s Word in a trusting, childlike manner. Salvation is a free gift, we can do nothing to earn it, it is a completely free gift from God and all we have to do is accept it. Further more, we need to understand that it is just as impossible to maintain our relationship with God through works. We maintain it by listening to and obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit. This may involve works, but it is not because of works. It is living in complete submission to His will. And we know His will by His Word. Put yourself aside and think as if you have put on the life of Jesus Christ like you are putting on clothing. Let Christ live freely through you by the power of His Spirit.

Have a God Day!

2 Corinthians 10:1-6
1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Philippians 4:6-9
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

The source of all your spiritual battles is found in your mind. We walk and live in the flesh, but Satan is a spirit and works in the spirit world all around us. The good news is so do God’s angels and they are constantly in battle for us. But they only have power as we give them power. In other words, if we allow Satan to set up a stronghold in our minds and we do not fight him, with opposite and godly thoughts, words and actions, God’s angels have little power to help us. But when we pray and continually affirm the Word of God in our minds and with our mouth, this releases God’s ministering agents to fight Satan on his turf. That is why Paul tells us we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. But we can fight them with the help of God’s angels. We give them power with our thoughts and words. Strongholds are broken down and we are freed of our sins whatever they may be. There is no power on earth that is greater than the power of God working through His people. Don’t allow Satan a home in your mind any longer, you know what sin is and you know what God would have you do. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Have a God Day!

Mark 4:14-20
14 The farmer I talked about is the one who brings God’s message to others. 15 The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then Satan comes at once and takes it away from them. 16 The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. 17 But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. 18 The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced. 20 But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest-thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

We have heard many times that this parable represents the heart.  Many who hear the Word of God have hard hearts and some are very rocky, only a few are prepared to receive the Word.  But this parable can also represent four different times or phases in a Christian’s life.  Our heart can be like good soil and receive the Word of God and grow and produce a good crop.  But at different times in our life, our heart can be like the hard rocky soil and close the door to the Word we hear.  Hopefully we do not stay here, but go on to become good soil.  Or we can be like good soil to certain parts of God’s Word.  We may respond like good soil when God speaks to us about worship but respond like rocky soil when it comes to tithing.  We hear the Word of God, but respond differently to the different messages.  We should pray to be like good soil in all areas of the Word of God.  Our goal should be to be open to receive whatever direction God would take us through His Word.  Examine your heart when you read the Word and find out what kind of soil is receiving it.  If it is hard, let God do a little plowing to make it soft and ready to apply what you have received.

Have a God Day!

Colossains 2:13-15
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. 15 In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.) 1996.

For those who believe, the penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross.  God has declared us not guilty and we no longer live under the control of sin and death.  But God does not take us out of this sinful world; we are to live as Christ Jesus did with God fully in control of His life.  At salvation, our sinful nature is cut away and God imparts to us the righteousness of Christ.  We now have God living in us and working His plan to make us like Jesus.  Before we were saved, we were slaves to our sinful nature, now we just have to surrender it to God.  He has freed us from the power of sin and death.  Even though we still have desire to sin, we are no longer under sins control.  We can seek the power of God to overcome.  God never promised us that we would not desire to sin, only that He has made a way for us not to.  1 Corinthians 10:1 tells us , “But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  God has a way of escape, we just have to chose it.

Have a God Day!