Wise Up!

The book of Proverbs provides God's detailed instructions for His people to deal successsfully with the practical affairs of everyday life.  Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, King Solomon, the principle author, gives the divine perspective necessary to handle life's challenges.  The dominant theme of Proverbs is wisdom in its various aspects.  In Proverbs "wisdom" (Hebrew, hokma) is skill in living as God intends, and is often connected with both understanding and knowledge.  Wisdom instructs God's people on how to live wisely in a foolish world. 

A very good habit to follow is to read one chapter of the book of Proverbs each day (the chapter will coincide with the numbered day of the month).  DO THE MATH.  Following this habit means you will read through the entire book of Proverbs each month, and 12 times over the span of one year.  One can only imagine the powerful impact this will have on your personal relationship with Christ and your Christian walk of faith.   Don't you think its time to "WISE-UP"?  God bless!

What Can We Say (Romans 8:31-34)

Having asked and answered four rhetorical questions (i.e. Who can be against us if God is for us? Who can hinder God from giving us all things if He did not even spare His own Son? Who can bring a charge againts us when God has justified us? Who can condemn us when Christ died for us, rose for us, and is seated at the Father's right hand for us?), the apostle Paul teaches us that not only is the Judge of the entire universe on our side, we also have an Advocate.  We have a perfecct Man in heaven, Jesus Christ, who is right now interceding for us at God the Father's right hand.  All our hopes are pinned on Him.  Who is there to condemn us?  No one on earth or in hell below can condemn us because we are "in Christ." HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOR!

Resurrection Victory!

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ said:  "Fear not, I am He that lives, and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death" (Rev. 1:17-18).  In this great victory statement, our Lord mentions three specific realities:  First, the reality of Jesus' sacrificial death ("I am He that lives; and was dead").  Second, the reality of Jesus' glorious resurrection ("and, behold, I am alive forevermore").  Finally, the reality of Jesus' powerful triumph ("and (I) have the keys of hell and death").   Resurrection Sunday (and every day of our lives) is a time to celebrate that Jesus Christ, our Savior, lives.  This truth brings comfort to our hearts and lives.  Praise God, Jesus is ALIVE!

Our Divine Resident (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

One of the greatest realities for the Christian is that at the very moment of salvation the Holy Spirit came to dwell permanently in their life, no matter how imperfect or immature that life may be.  As our permanent resident, the Holy Spirit seals us, guides us, teaches us, convicts us, comforts us, encourages us, equips and empowers us, and fills us. 

Just think ---- we are never alone in our struggles and troubles.  When life seems too much for us, when we encounter tought times or we're treated unfairly, we can rejoice in the presence of our divine resident, the Holy Spirit.  Praise God, our divine resident is not just "with" us, He is "within" us!

Giving to God

How do you view giving?  Some view it as an obstacle, burden, or punishment.  Some, obviously need to change their whole attitude about giving to God through their local church.  Churches suffer today financially because only 9-10% of all Christians tithe through their local churches (though 17% say they do).  The reason for this:  GREED and COVETOUSNESS.  As Christians we need to be tranformed from attitudes of greed to generosity, from attitudes that give grudgingly to an atttitude of giving liberally, and from an attitude of stinginesss to one of sharing.  According to 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, our giving should be done gratefully (v.1), sacrificially (v.2), eagerly (vv.3-4), worshipfully (vv.5-6), and exemplary (vv.8-9).  Our giving is a reflection of our love for the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.

Where Is Your Treasure? Matthew 6:19-24

Have you ever played the game, MONOPOLY?  Monopoly is the game where players accumulate property, build houses and hotels, and then wait for the other players to land on their property so they have to pay up.  Eventually, you hope to bankrupt everyone else and take all the money and property.  But, regardless of who wins the game, when the game is over, the board is folded up, all the pieces put away, and the lid goes on the box.  It has only been a game.  This is exactly how it is in this "more is better" society in which we live.  When our life is over, the game pieces are put away and the lid closed on our coffin.  At that point, it won't matter who owned the railroads and Boardwalk.  Earthly wealth doesn't guarantee earthly happiness or heavenly treasure.  As Christians, we ought to spend our lives laying up "treasures in Heaven."  The treasures we send on ahead to heaven are mothproof, rustproof, and burglarproof.  How, then, do we make deposits on earth that yield heavenly dividends?  We store up treasuress in heaven by investing our money in that which lasts for eternity --- the lives and souls of people!  Everything else will decay and/or disappear.  As missionary Jim Elliot once said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."  AMEN!

Transformational Love

All that God is doing in our lives is not complete without transformational love.  This is God's love, agape love, the divine love implanted in the heart of every Christian by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5).  This is the love that, while being discerning, knows no limits and has no conditions.  This is the love that is at the very heart of God (1 John 4:8, "God is agape").  This love is:  (1) the ultimate mark of true believers in Christ (John 13:34-35), (2) the manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and (3)that which enables us to build lasting relationships with each other in our churches by showing us how to get along with each other (Rom. 12:9-21).

Transformational Love

All that God is doing in our lives is not complete without transformational love.  This is God's love, agape love, the divine love implanted in the heart of every Christian by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5).  This is the love that, while being discerning, knows no limits and has no conditions.  This is the love that is at the very heart of God (1 John 4:8, "God is agape").  This love is:  (1) the ultimate mark of true believers in Christ (John 13:34-35), (2) the manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and (3)that which enables us to build lasting relationships with each other in our churches by showing us how to get along with each other (Rom. 12:9-21).

You (We) Are What You (We) Think

How important is our attitude?  Our attitude is more important than:  facts, circumstances, what others think or say, our past, our education, and even our money.  Our attitude is more important than anything else.

Understand that our attitue is much deeper than just a few thoughts we might think or not think.  Our attitude comes from the very core of our being.  Our attitude represents our disposition, our outlook, our character; it reveals to others just what we look like on the inside.  Good or bad, that which is on the inside of our heart comes forth in/through our attitudes.  (Proverbs 23:7, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he").  Watch Your Attitude!

Living Our Relationship

     As born again believers in Jesus Christ, we need to start living our relationship.  We need to begin being righteous, being upright in heart, being glad in the LORD, shouting for joy . . . . WHY?  Because according to God's infallible word, we are blessed because our transgressions are forgiven, our sin has been removed, and our iniquity is no longer charged to our life's account.  We're blessed because we have embraced Jesus Christ and have received forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-2).  We ought to be FIRED UP about God's forgiveness.

Victory in Jesus!

Professional Wrestling is staged.  Before the wrestlers ever go out, it has been predetermined who will win. The contenders go through the battle for entertainment purposes but the point of the battle is not to decide who will win, but to give the crowd a show.  The winner of the match does not battle for victory but from victory.

Those of us who are in Christ have already won the battle over sins of the flesh and mind.  God allows us to go through our Christian walk, not to win the victory but to show off to the world that "He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world."  We battle "from" our victory in Christ, and not "for" our victory in Christ.  The Bible says, "But thanks be to God who gives (has given) us the victory through Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57-58).  We have already overcome!

Trusting God Anyhow!

The Book of Habakkuk teaches Christians how they can trust God during the worst of times.  The philosophical question:  "Why does a righteous God allow unrighteeousness to prevail?" is asked and answered in Habakkuk.  Habakkuk is a book that traces the prophet Habakkuk's journey in life from dout to faith.  The book provides practical insight on how to deal with such issues as:  greed, covetousness, unholy aspirations, exploitation, and idolatry.  To study this great subject, order your copy of the book, Trusting God Anyhow! through Amazon.com or NewBookPublishing.com 

Safeguarding Against Heretics

God's Word makes it plain to all believers in Christ that they, "have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One, and you know all things" (1 John 2:20).  This special anointing comes in the Person of the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer, and who through illumination, guides believers into all the truth, especially as it relates to Jesus Christ, God's Son.  Christians are protected from heretics and their false teaching by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.  It is vitally important, then, for us Christians to spend daily time reading and studying God's Word, praying to and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and apply God's Word to our daily lives (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16).

Avoiding the Big Blowups (James 1:19-21)

   James, the writer of the book that bares his name offers five steps toward overcoming anger:

1. Be slow to speak (v.19).  Weigh your words carefully (Proverbs 17:28 and 29:20)
2. Be quick to listen (v.19).  Avoid erupting into anger.  Assume the posture of a listener (Proverbs 18:13).
3. Be slow to anger (vv.19, 20).  No amount of yelling at my (our) children will turn them into the righteous young people I (we) long for theem to be.
4. Get rid of all moral filth and evil (v.21).  When distracted by sin we cannot dedicate ourselves to controlling our anger.
5. Humbly accept the Word of God (v.21).  Submit to the Word of God as the final authority and guide for your life.

CONCLUSION:  What If I do blow up?  Admit it, ask for God's help, and confess to the people you hurt.   (Taken from a sermon by Reverend Mark Hollis)

Happy Mother's Day!

Webster's New World Dictionary defines a mother as:  "A woman who has born a child; someone that gives birth to a child; someone who is the source of something."  When you say "mother" to a little child, he usually thinks of her functions first, then her feelings.  A child thinks of being fed, clothed, cleaned, etc.  Motherhood is a bestowed honor, especially when looked at from a Biblical perspective.  There are many things we fail to remember when we think of "motherhood."  Here are just two of them:

• Mothers have needs - These needs grow out of the fact that mothers play a number of roles ---- mother, woman, and wife.
• Mothers meet needs - Mothers are educators, financiers, budget directors, nurses, dietitians, baby-sitters, chauffers, referees, philosophers, dishwashers, and waitresses, just to name a few. 

WOW!  What a terrific position to be in ---- A Christian Mother.  Christian mothers are those who demonstrate genuine faith in Jesus Christ.  Thanks, to all moms who take their God-given responsibilities seriously, for they realize that "the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world."

"When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also" (2 Timothy 1:5).

Hallelujah! Jesus is Alive!

The Easter Season is a great time for the Christian to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The great event called the RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, was of such a nature that it secured, forever, our redemption.  Biblically speaking, the death of Christ was not sufficient in itelf to secure total redemption for sinners.  His death paid the total price for our sins, whereas His resurrection is what guarantees our final victory over sin, Satan, and the second death.  It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that assures believers of their resurrection when Christ returns for His Bride, the Church.  Hallelujah!  Jesus is Alive!

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, the He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18)

There Is No Other Name!

Today, with so many religious belief systems, with so many people claiming to have a relationship with God, with so many denominations claiming to have a monopoly on God's truth; we need to be reassured of our convition that Biblical salvation is only through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved").  Biblical salvation is based solely on the merits of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).  This is the "good news" (Gospel), the only message from God that provides the answer for man's greatest need - his need of a Savior due to sin!  Have you received Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Savior?  If not, why not pray to God right now, confess your sinfulness, tell God that you believe what His Word says about Christ's death and resurrection for your sin, then humbly asked Jesus to come into your life.  God says that if you do that, you will be instantly and forever saved (cf. Romans 10:9, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has rraised Him from the dead, you will be saved").  If you prayed to receive Christ, please contact me.  I have more great news to share with you.  God bless.

"Revive Your Church, O God"

Friends, I firmly believe that Western Christianity as we know it might very well be in its death throes.  The Church in America may well be breathing its last breathe, struggling to survive.  Let's face the bare cold facts.  Churches in America are in deep trouble.  They are in desparate need of a "Heaven sent revival."  It has been estimated that no matter the growth and development of local churches, only about 25% of the church membership is totally committed to Jesus Christ, and dedicated and committed to the overall vision aand mission of their church.  That means that about 75% of every church's membership roster has members who are irregular in their attendance, unfaithful in giving their tithes and offerings, indifferent when it comes to sacrificing time and evergy to serve Christ, and insensitive to the need of cultivating lasting relationships within the body of Christ.  Perhaps our cry to God on behalf of ourselves individually, and our local churches collectively, should be as the psalmist, when he cried out, "Wilt thou revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (Psalm 85:6).  Only God can bring about a "Heaven sent revival."

The Superiority and Splendor of Jesus Christ

     The Book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps the most widely used book of the Bible.  The reason is that it explores the full range of human experiences in a very personal and practical way.  Psalms is the hymnal of the Bible.  The word psalm comes from a Hebrew word meaning, "a poem sung to musical accompaniment."  Written over a lengthy period of Israel's history, the book of Psalms has a wide range of subject matter (jubilation, lament, war, peace, worship, judgment, praise,and messianic prophecy).  Many of the psalms specifically anticipate the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah (known as the "Messianic Psalms").  Psalms 22, 23 and 24 are historically known as the "Shepherd Psalms."

     Psalms 22, 23, and 24 bear an interesting relationship with one another.  In Psalm 22, Christ is the Savior,  in 23 Christ is the Shepherd, and in 24 He is the Sovereign.  In Psalm 22 Christ Dies for His sheep; in 23 He Cares for His sheep, and in 24 He Rules His sheep.  Psalm 22 tells of Christ's Grace; 23 tells of His Guidance, and 24 tells of His Glory.  In Psalm 22 we see the Cross, in 23 we see the Shepherd's Crook, and in 24 we see the Crown.  Psalm 22 is past, 23 is present, and 24 is future.  Truly, Jesus Christ's Supremacy and Splendor reigns over all things and every one.

Restoring Pastoral Integrity

PRESUPPOSITION:  Pastoral Integrity Must Be Restored.  Today, Christian Ministry is suspect largely in part to the lack of integrity in pastoral ministry.  Christianity is increasingly becoming the object of unnecessary ridicule, scorn, and critticism.  Some indignaation is to be expected because of the believer's relationship to Jesus Christ.  Jesus said of believers, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, eveen as I am not of the world" (John 17:14).  Consequently, some ridicule, scorn, and criticism are to be expected.  However, there is a great deal of criticism leveled against the body of Christ because of the inconsistency seen in pastoral leadership.  Much of this is in large measure due to the number of uncalled, untrained, and unqualified men who serve as shepherds over God's flock.  Horror stories abound regarding pastors and other church leaders who drink, smoke, gamble, and use profanity.  Other pastors and church leaders are accused of having resorted to a flirtatious and sexually promiscuous lifestyle.  Still others are said to be manipulators, using their church authority to accomplish their personal goals and agendas.  As a result, disenchanted church members have all but abandoned mainline denominations and some have even embraced religious cults.  We need pastoral integrity restored.  We need every pastor to seriously consider what God says as to the basic qualification of the pastor ("The bishop must be above reproach", 1 Tim. 3:1-2)