Tag: #Jesus

CHOOSING YOUR MOUNTAIN

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The title of today’s episode is: CHOSING YOUR MOUNTAIN

Imagine how life was for the Jewish people after the day of Pentecost. More specifically the Jewish disciples. They had been taught the Law of Moses their whole lives. Now there was a new way. Some rituals and things no longer needed to be done because Christ fulfilled the law. The Messiah had already been on the earth and was crucified. While on earth, he taught his disciples what the new church would look like, then they went and prayed until God’s Spirit fell and the church was born.

But we see in different places that there were things that they disagreed on, some felt like the Gentile males should be circumcised as they had been under the law. It took time to unlearn the things that they had been taught. Some were God’s commands to the Jewish people; others were laws added by the religious people to supposedly help them keep the original ten commandments.

Every denomination has traditions of men that they were taught. Like I spoke of a few days ago about the church that always closed one of the window blinds. They did that for years before every service, as part of their routine. But no one knew why, it had always been done. The new pastor finally asked an elderly lady in the congregation, and she explained it kept glare off of the sheet music. The pastor looked at the piano and questioned how that would help. She laughed, well the piano used to sit in the other corner.

It is high time for there to be unity in the body of Christ. It is time for us to take a hard look at what we do and what we really believe. Do we believe it because that is what the word of God really says and really means? Do we believe it because we have always been taught certain things?

People are willing to fight and die on a mountain they were never meant to stand on. These same people will overlook the real deep things of God and the mountains that we are supposed to stand firm on and not be wishy washy.

I know a woman that believes it is a sin for women to wear pants. It is a mountain she has chosen to plant her flag, acting like that is the worst thing in the world. She and those like her will run sinners off, before they can get them saved by listing their rules. They are bound by legalism. However, this same person goes around the entire congregation gossiping and sowing discord. She is judgmental about everything everyone else is doing and says to the point of spreading lies to make her point. This is where I choose to plant my flag. Spreading lies, rumors and gossip is all talked about at length in the word of God. One verse goes as far as saying the liar shall have their place in the lake of fire. In light of these things, which mountain should we plant our flag? One of man’s opinion that doesn’t mean anything. The other is serious.

I hope she has the best of intentions, like the early Jews trying to circumcise the new Gentile converts. This is something she really believes to be God’s plan. However, she is so wrapped up in that one thing, she is missing the bigger things. One is man’s traditions, and the other is what God calls a sin. I don’t want to miss the move of God because I am stuck in my traditions or my ideas.

It is like when Jesus told them to remove the beam from their own eye before trying to remove a splinter from their neighbors eye. If you see me doing something that you believe is wrong, don’t gossip about it. Pray about it. Ask God to show me that I am wrong. If I am praying, like I have been for God to search my heart, then He will show me. That way we can prevent hurt and the dimming of our light.

Our journey should be all about shining our light for the world to see. It is about the cross of calvary. It is about walking in the Spirit and not our flesh. It is about showing the world love and respect. We will never win anyone from the stance of judgment. I have people in my life that I don’t agree with and pray they change their ways. But me being all judgmental and in their face about it, will not change them or help them find God.

I understand we cannot adopt the do what you want, live any way, all roads and all gods lead to heaven. That is a liberal fairytale and is contrary to the word of God. That is a completely different subject.

But if someone new comes in, just starting their faith walk and is trying to live for the Lord we cannot put too many rules on them. It is like a heavy yoke on a young ox. They will break under pressure. It is a balance; we have to live holy and as right as is within our power. But we have to remember the grace of God. We didn’t start out as instant perfect Christian. I am still not perfect. But I have grown by leaps and bounds from where I started. We need to give people room for God to grow them too.

This post today is a long way of saying, If we do all we can to walk in the ways of the Lord. If we desire above all to do His will and be what He created us to be and ask him to show us the next step on our journey, God will not hide the truth from us. Ask him for HIS Truth, not man’s truth. Not traditions of a denomination. God’s truth. Because he is the only one coming back someday. The only one returning for a unified body. I want to be ready according to His ways.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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LETTING GO

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The title of today’s episode is: LETTING GO

I am going to share something with you. It is possible to carry things in our lives that we do not even know we are carrying. Over time we experience things that we are not sure how to process or are too painful to deal with at the time. We bury them deep in our hearts.

I felt like I had suffered an offense over thirty years ago. I didn’t really think about it, until something happened, and my feelings came flooding out of my mouth. I was shocked that I had been carrying that bitterness for over thirty years.

Recently, I have been asking God to really search me and get rid of everything that is not of him. I want to be free of bitterness, offense and anything else that will get in my way of doing what God wants me to do.

The word bitterness means: disappointment and resentment at being treated unfairly.

Jesus was treated more unfairly than anyone, yet he had enough love to say, father forgive them they know not what they do. We need to ask God to remove our weights and fill the space with his love.

I often say that we are only capable of carrying so much. For example: If you were only capable of carrying ten pounds. You carry five pounds of bitterness. Three pounds of hurt and offense. Two pounds of all of your responsibilities of life. There is not any room left for anything that God wants to give you to carry. We need to empty our life of unnecessary weight. Then we will be down to the two pounds of responsibilities of everyday life. That leaves eight pounds of room for the things God wants to give to us to carry.

We have to empty our hands so we can lift them up for him to fill. In the days in which we are living, we have to be free to run the race that he needs for us to run. If everyone was bogged down with things that cause offense, bitterness none of us would have room to do the will of God.

Eph 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Striving to forgive others sometimes is not easy. In the case of my situation from yesterday. I feel like I have been able to release it to God. I have asked him to cleanse me of the bitterness and offence.

In some cases, the weight of hurt and offense can even cause us to have physical sickness in our bodies. Unforgiveness and bitterness can be like venom or poison to our souls. This has been scientifically proven. Feelings and emotions can show up in physical ways. We cannot show God’s love if we are bitter. To truly walk in God’s love, we have to be fully free.

I am so grateful that God revealed this resentment and bitterness so that I could get rid of it. If someone would have told me that I was carrying that much bitterness and resentment. I would have had to give it serious thought, then would have probably said, No I am fine. These things are buried deep most of the time. It takes God to bring them to light.

Ask yourself, do I have any unforgiveness or bitterness? Is there anything in me that I need to ask God to remove. He can and will set us free, we just have to be willing to ask him for his help to forgive and let go.

We all have a race to run; time is short. We cannot be held back by these emotions; we need to be able to carry what God has for us; souls depend on us running our race well.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GET FOCUSED

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The title of today’s episode is: GET FOCUSED

We all need reminded from time to time, just how good our God is to us. We often take for granted our relationship with him. When the days flow seamlessly into one another and there are no major things going on, we get comfortable. We begin to lose our focus on God.

Sometimes God allows trials to strengthen us, other times it is to wake us up and remind us he is there. We get into a routine or our comfort zone. It is easy to get distracted by the things of life. This is why I am always encouraging you to keep your God focus. When we focus on him, we are aligning our hearts with the heart of God. Suddenly, we start to think like him about things. We will call sin, sin and not sugar coat the truth of God. We will want to tell people the truth of God’s word to help them find their walk with him.

Encouraging them to align with God and focus on him, will give them the direction that they need to find everything from forgiveness of sin to an abundant life in Christ.

Psalm 97:9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

We need to have our God Focus on the one true and living God. The earth is full of gods and idols. But there is only one Jesus. He is the only one that died for our sins. He is the only one worthy of being worshipped.

Psalm 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

If we love the Lord, we will hate evil. We are to hate the sin but have compassion on the souls of those who commit sin. However, people come to a place with God that he no longer tries to draw them to him. He will call and call for them to yield to his authority. But after so many rejections, God will give up on them.

He will keep safe the souls of his saints. He will deliver us out of our troubles. He will deliver us out of the hand of the wicked. It doesn’t matter how many are against us, if God is for us.

Psalm 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

We need to give thanks to the Lord when we remember what a holy God we serve. If we can just keep our God Focus. Everything else will work out. Focus on how good God is and what he has done for us. He has a way of leading us right where we need to be, when we focus on him.

It is time for the body of Christ to gain some focus on the important things and get rid of the religion. Get rid of legalism in the church. Religion and legalism puts us in the same category as the Pharisees. They missed Jesus because they were so wrapped up in legalism and religion.

I love chapter six of Isaiah, he had a vision of he Lord. I often think about this and try to picture it in my mind. It is about God cleansing his people. It touches me to think about the angels flying and singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Worship goes a long way to help us focus on God. When we lift up our hands in praise, we are drawing closer to God. Worship sets the atmosphere for God to touch our spirits and lift us up. Praise and worship are the way we can move into the flow of the Spirit of God to be refreshed in Him.

It’s all about the cross, it’s all about his precious blood that he shed. It is about how he fills us with his Spirit and makes us new. He will keep us on the right path, if we keep our focus on him.

In the times we are living, much evil is out in the world. We need to be even more focused on God and his will. We have a harvest to gather before it’s too late. It will never be gathered if we cannot keep our God Focus.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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CLOSER WALK

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The title of today’s episode is: CLOSER WALK

I am stirred in my spirit as I try to write out what I want to share with you today. The old hymn, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” has been going through my mind most of the evening. I feel like God is trying to get his people’s attention. He’s saying come up a little higher. Dig a little deeper. Learn of me, know me.

When it is all said and done, he is not going to ask you if you attended a fancy church with stained glass windows. He won’t ask if you pastored a church with 500 or 5000 people in Sunday school. He won’t care how many good deeds and kindnesses we shared. It is not about quantity, it’s about quality time with God. It is about a relationship.

John 8:22-24 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

What will matter is what we believed about Jesus, that we know he is God. Not head knowledge, but heart knowledge and understanding. What will matter is that we are born again of the water and the spirit.

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

I am often reminded of people in the bible that did out of the box things to get to Jesus. Blind Bartimaeus cried out for him. Everyone one else was quiet, and his loud desperation made them uncomfortable. But sometimes we are in the middle of our struggles we need to cry loudly to Jesus. In spite of what anyone thinks.

The woman with the issue of blood didn’t let people get in her way. She pressed into the crowd to just reach the hem of his garment. She was desperate for healing. He was her only hope.

The problem with the modern-day church is that we are too dignified to cry out to Jesus. Many are afraid of what others think. “My God in Heaven, I pray that the body of Christ can break free from people pleasing.” It is not about other people. It is a personal relationship. If your church and your relationships do not encourage you to dig deeper into the word and draw closer to Jesus Christ. Run, run as if your soul depends on it. Because it very well could. I say this often, surround yourself with people that makes you hungry for God. People who encourage your faith walk.

God gives us a new day, what we give back to him will determine our destiny. “Just a closer walk with thee.” The song writer who wrote those words, was desiring a deeper relationship with God. If we are his children, we should desire a closer walk with him. God could be saying the same thing. He desires a close walk with us too.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

We want clean hands and a pure heart. We are not to be double-minded or stuck between two opinions. Today is the day to make up our minds to draw closer to Jesus.

God desired a relationship so much that he came and died on a cross for us. He ascended into heaven and came back in the form of the Holy Ghost to live and dwell within us. If he is in us, how can we get any closer? It is not physically possible, but spiritually feeling that connection to God sometimes is difficult. This is when we start quietly saying, “I want just a closer walk with thee. Grant it Jesus is my plea.” We can have a daily walk that is close, but we have to invest in the relationship. It is about being sold out to the cause of Christ. It is about being willing to step out in faith and not care about what others think.

Are you willing to leave your comfort zone to see someone set free? Are you willing to be rejected by people when you tell them the truth? Until we can set aside our fears, we cannot walk in faith. It is time to say goodbye to the comfort zone.

A closer walk and new adventures of faith are awaiting those who are bold and brave enough to take the next step. Are you one who is brave enough? I am trying to be, I don’t want to miss anything God has for me.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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ARE WE SO DIFFERENT

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The title of today’s episode is: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT?

It is easy to sit in judgement of others if we are not careful. I often read the story of the Children of Israel and shake my head in amazement. God delivered them out of the hand of the enemy and a short time later, they want a golden calf.

They wanted to trade the one true God, Jehovah for a statue with no power. Because they were comfortable with the false God. How often are we comfortable with traditions or things that are not real? We do certain things because it has always been done.

There is a story of a church that always closed one of the blinds on a window before the service started. No one really knew why, but it was part of the routine, before the service that one blind was always closed.

The church got a new pastor, he was young and notice this behavior over several weeks. He started to make inquiries as to why they always closed that one window blind. No one knew, yet each service was closed. They would all say, I don’t know, it’s always been done. Finally, he asked an elderly woman in the church if she knew why.

She said, it was because the sun would reflect through the window and the piano player could not see the sheet music. He looked at the placement of the piano and back the woman. I am not sure how that is possible. She laughed, well the piano used to sit in the other corner.

This illustration is funny because anyone can see that closing the blind with no reason to do it any longer is crazy. But how many things do we do because it has always been done and there is not any biblical reason for us to do them. These traditions people would stand up and fight for, because we have always done them a certain way. The traditions of men become an idol in the believer’s life. When Jesus is the only one qualified to sit on the throne of our lives.

Acts 7:38-41 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: 39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, 40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

We are no different today. How often do we rejoice in the work of our own hands. We all have put something or someone before God in our life. This is idolatry, although most of us are not bowing to a golden calf. We still have all put something before God in our lives.

When faced with anything uncomfortable, they wanted to turn around and go back to what was familiar. How quickly they forgot that God had delivered them from bondage. I said all of this to say this, we cannot get too comfortable. We have to be diligent and watchful of our lives.

We cannot allow anything to become more important in our lives than God. We cannot even allow the things we do for God to be more important than the relationship.

Matt 7:21-24 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

We can do all the right religious things and end up lost. It is about the relationship with the one true God. Take some time to think about the things you do and why you do them. Are you putting God first or are you closing blinds because that is what has always been done. I don’t want to be like the children of Israel, building idols in my life, because I want to stay in my comfort zone. My prayer is that God will help me to get out of the comfort zone and do what he asks of me, even if it is scary. What about you?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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WALKING IN LOVE

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The title of today’s episode is: WALKING IN LOVE

Jesus said, John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

As we try to walk out our faith walk, we are to walk in Love. But what does that mean? The church today is full of misconceptions about what it means to walk in love. Many believe that if we are Christians that we are supposed to let others walk all over us and we are to take it. We are supposed to let them trample all over the word of God in the name of love and compassion. Others believe that we are supposed to be door mats and keep quiet about politics and current events because we don’t want to appear difficult and God forbid we offend someone, by telling them the truth. God is a god of justice. It is because of his tender mercies that lightening didn’t strike them all dead in Paris the other evening.

It is ok to be angry over an injustice or people misusing the house of God for evil. Even Jesus ran the money changers out of the temple. We just cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with anger.

Many were going sideways this week over the opening of the Olympics. Some said it wasn’t supposed to be the last supper. Others said it was supposed to be something else. Although those people have souls and we are to have compassion for them, we must tell them the truth. The truth is showing them love. They may not get it, but we are showing them love by telling them the truth.

However, before you think I am being weak minded, Jesus is my life, and it hurts deeply that people would mock him. He endured enough of that when he was on his way to crucifixion. We do not need to allow people to openly mock him and not stand for him.

Gal 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God sees all and allows people to only go so far before he steps in and allows people to reap what they sow. When we sow to our flesh, we will reap in many ways hard things that are painful. We will eventually reap an eternity in hell.

If we sow to the spirit and walk in the ways of God, we will reap many blessings and eternal life. Notice it says, God is not mocked. We cannot stand by and allow evil to control our world without at least saying something against it.

But we cannot fall into bitterness, anger, rage, unforgiveness and fear. We have to stand strong and always rebuke with love and compassion. Like I said, those people need God. We have all been guilty of idolatry and sin.

Are you walking in hatred? I am walking in the hatred of the sin. But I do not walk in the hatred of those people. They need prayer that God speaks to them. The very thing they need they are afraid of and mock.

As you get ready for your weekend, think about where you stand. Think about your choices, are you walking in God’s love? Are you walking in bitterness and anger? Do you believe God wants you to be a doormat?

If God didn’t expect us to fight the good fight of faith, why did he give us a sword of his word? It is what we have to use to judge how we react to every situation of life. We are to live godly and walk in love toward all mankind. This is written in the word.

Every verse gives us understanding to be more like God. As we come to the crossroads of God doing something huge in the world, we all have decisions to make about our lives. God is drawing lines and asking which side we are all on, today is the day to chose to be on the Lord’s side. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late. So hold your head high, stand strong, keep fighting the good fight of faith, and always walk in love, telling people the truth.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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HIDDEN

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The title of today’s episode is: HIDDEN

I want to start today with the story of Adam and Eve. Most know that the snake beguiled Eve into eating of the fruit of the tree that God specifically said do not eat. It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Up to this point, Adam and Eve were innocent and naive to the knowledge of evil. Not defending Eve, but I want to make a point. She was so easily deceived because no one in her life had ever lied to her before, until she ate of the tree, she didn’t even know about lies and dishonesty.

The second point to make about Eve, she was given God’s command second hand through Adam. She didn’t have firsthand knowledge of his words to Adam. This is why it is important for us today to get into the Bible and read it for ourselves, so we have firsthand knowledge. This way we are less likely to be deceived by some smooth talking, false teacher.

Gen 3:7-8 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

People often commit sin and realize they are exposed. Instead of repenting, they try to cover their sin by hiding in the place that they were supposed to be at all along. They made clothes to cover their nakedness. They went and hid among the trees that they were allowed to eat.

People often want to clothe themselves in things to make people think that they are righteous, when their righteousness is as filthy rags. Then they go back to the place that God wants them to be, the place before their sin. If something really bad happens, they want to return to the moment of innocence. But there is never a way to go back to before things happen. We just have to move forward with God’s forgiveness.

I saw a post on social media that said, People will always tell you who they are, believe them. This is true, we often try to tell ourselves that our instincts about people are wrong. We force ourselves to give them the benefit of the doubt, until we are taken in by them like Eve was the snake. God gave us instincts and intuition for a reason. Sin is a harsh reality. If they would have listened to God they would have never known the evil of this world. Once enlightened to the darkness, we are never the same, we will always have the knowledge of evil. Even if we are saved from it ruling our lives.

Genesis3:9-12 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Adam was the first person to blame someone else for his shortcomings and sin. He blamed Eve. He had no one to blame but himself. Eve blamed the serpent. She was the first to say the devil made me do it. But God didn’t let either get by with blaming someone else.

We are all bare before God, there is nothing hidden. We sometimes hide things from ourselves or even other people, we but cannot hide them from God.

In Revelations Chapter 3, God is talking to the different church ages, to the church of the Laodiceans, he says:

Rev3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

In other words, we have material things, but are wretched, miserable, poor when it comes to the spiritual things and are blind and naked. Blind to the truth and do not have on the garments of God. The garments of Praise or being clothed in the spirit and righteousness.

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We are going to have to go through the fire and be tried to see what we are made of, will we stand strong for the faith. If so, we will be rich in spiritual things and have a white garment, that our nakedness be covered.

People today think they are getting by with their sin. They are committing sin all week and going to church on Sunday. Like Adam and Eve ran and hid in the trees. God knew their sin before he asked them if they ate of the tree.

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

We are always bare before the Lord. There is nothing hidden, we are like a child covering their eyes thinking no one can see them. But in reality, we are exposed to the world.

It is a good thing to become clothed by God. He will cover us with his garments like he made clothes for Adam and Eve. We will no longer be exposed for our sins, because his blood covers all of our sins.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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NO FAMINE IN GOD

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The title of today’s episode is: NO FAMINE IN GOD

Our world is in the middle of a time of spiritual starvation, but not for lack of food. There are plenty of Bibles. Many people that are not willing to accept the word of God as a source for their soul. There are too few people trying to share the amazing word of God. The word that has the power to strengthen, enlighten, encourage and transform even the hungriest soul.

We find a story in the fourth chapter of 2Kings about a poor widow. She approached Elisha and told him that her husband was gone and that they were going to take her sons for bondmen to pay off her debt. Now there was famine in the land. People lacked a lot of the basic necessities of life.

The prophet said to her, what do you have in your house? She started to say nothing, then she said, except a pot of oil. He told her to go borrow vessels from all her neighbors, and he told her not to borrow a few but many. When she had them all, she was to go into her house and shut the door.

2 Kings 4:4-7 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Because there was a famine, people were lacking oil also. She was able to sell all the oil and become debt free.

I was thinking about how we have a spiritual famine in the world today. It is not because God is lacking. We are not using what we have in our house. The Holy Ghost is often referred to as being oil or the anointing of God. There is not a shortage of oil. But there is a shortage of willing vessels.

In order for us to complete the harvest so that Christ can come and get his bride, we need to go gather vessels. We need to gather as many as we can. People need to be filled with the power of God or the oil of his anointing.

The widow poured and poured until she ran out of vessels. God will do the same, he will pour out his Spirit until there are no more vessels (willing vessels). Then he will call his children home.

Just as her children were almost sold into slavery. The whole world is a slave to sin unless they have let God fill them full of his precious oil. This story is often used to reflect the nature of how God provides and takes care of his people, even in famine.

He sent the children of Israel to Egypt to get away from a famine. When Joseph was second in command of the land of Egypt. They were not meant to stay 400 years. Sometimes we move in and take up residence in the places that God only meant to be a temporary situation. A place to ride out the famine.

It is time that we help those around us to get out of the place they have set up residence. We need to help them get back to the place God has for them to dwell. We are to dwell in the secret place of the almighty, not be traveling in the sinful world. It is easier to dwell in the secret place of the almighty if we have oil in our vessel.

The next time your spiritual life feels like you are in a famine, remember the Lord will give strength to his people. There is nothing that we face today or will face tomorrow that he cannot handle. He tells us to not walk in fear, but to trust him. God is with us and will provide for us. He will fill our vessel or refill our vessel and give us a refreshing of his power and strength, if we trust in Him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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HONESTY AND TRUTH

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: HONESTY AND TRUTH

Satan is the father of lies. He loves to whisper things in our ears that cause us to fall into fear, anxiety and even sin. The word says that the truth will set you free. I recently had to have a hard conversation with a friend. I didn’t want to tell them the truth about a situation, but God tells us to not lie.

Telling lies is deceitful and rebellion, which is a part of witchcraft. We walk a fine line sometimes. But God wants us to always give our best, that includes the truth. We don’t always want the truth. It makes us have to measure up and sometimes sacrifice things that our flesh wants to hold on to. But real truth will also set us free from things that hold us back from being all we can be in the kingdom.

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

This verse is Jesus’ words to a group of Jews. He was telling them to walk in the truth of the word, the intent of the word and not the legalism of the word. The intent of the word the truth would set them free from sin and other trappings of life.

I was doing my daily reading when I came across the story of Ananias and Sapphira. A group of believers in their city decided to sell their possessions and give the money to the work of the Lord. Many sold lands or houses and brought the prices of the things that were sold and placed them at the apostle’s feet.

But Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and kept part of the money for themselves. They decided they would lie about how much they sold it for and would give that amount. It wasn’t wrong for them to keep part of the money, unless they had made a vow to give it all. It was the lie that they told in order to hold back something.

God revealed the lie to Peter.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Fear of man probably made them lie. They didn’t want to give all they had from the sale but didn’t want to tell them that they were keeping a portion. It wasn’t a requirement. It was just that the others felt like making the sacrifice. Since they were not in the place of giving God their all, He knew that and would have accepted what they freely gave to the work of the Lord.

Notice verse four Peter said to him, Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? (In other words, you had control of the property.)and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?(After it was sold, you still had control of the money. It was your choice.) why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

It does no good to give to the work of the Lord if you do it begrudgingly. God doesn’t need our money. (Contrary to what a lot of prosperity preachers will tell you.) He wants our whole heart. He wants us to freely give of our time, our resources and ourselves.

We don’t give God things just to check off the boxes that make us a good Christian. That is legalism and Jesus died to set us free from a bunch of legalities. If we spend time in the word just to say, I read a certain number of chapters, that is legalism. If we sit and try to make a God connection even if it is only fifteen minutes. God will honor the quality of the time. Daily devotions, prayer time, paying tithes, giving offerings, doing good deeds, attending church are all things we do as believers because we want to grow our relationship with God. The things we sacrifice, our time and resources he wants us to give to him out of our love for him. Not because he is sitting in heaven with a clip board checking off boxes.

After Ananias had been buried his wife Sapphira came about three hours later and shared the same lie with the apostles. She too was struck down in front of the apostles. Many there were struck with fear when they heard what had happened.

I believe this story was put in the bible to let us know God wants our honesty. He wants us to give to him out of a pure heart.

It is like our worship. He doesn’t want lip service. He wants a genuine connection with us, because we choose to follow him and love him. He will honor the honesty of our hearts and our actions.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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THE BEAUTIFUL GATE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: THE BEAUTIFUL GATE

In Acts Chapter Three we find a story of Peter and John. They were going to the temple at the hour of prayer. There was a lame man who had been lame from birth. He was carried there everyday to beg for money from the people going into the temple.

This area was Solomon’s porch which was at the gate called Beautiful. This was the external gate. This gate led from the court of the Gentiles to the court of the Jews.

The inner gate was covered with plates of gold and silver. Inside the gate he was at was what he was seeking, even though it was on the gate. He was looking for silver and gold. He was stuck in the outer place and could not get to the inner place under his own power.

What he needed was the God inside the temple, he needed a God encounter. It is not a coincidence that the gate was called Beautiful. This word translated from the Hebrew text, the word horaios means – belonging to the right hour or season; timely. It implied flourishing.

That morning probably seemed like just another day to lay and beg for the lame man. But he was about to have a God encounter. Peter and John walked by him and he asked alms from them.

Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Notice the man was expecting something from them. He was expecting wealth. However, he received something far greater than silver or gold. He received a miracle from God. He had a God encounter and he was forever changed.

God wants us to come to him expecting he will do miracles in our lives. He will give us the strength we need to keep moving forward.

Notice Verse Seven, He meaning Peter took the man by the hand and lifted him up, and he received strength to walk. How often do we miss opportunities to lift up someone who is spiritually lame. Maybe they do not know God and have never had a God encounter. Maybe they are a Christian that is struggling with an issue and needs encouraged. It is our job to lift them up in any way we can.

ACTS 3:8-10 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

When God gives some one an encounter, they will not be able to keep quiet about it. He leaped up, then he stood, then he walked and entered the temple with them. If we can lift someone up, it will give them strength to stand. Once someone is standing it is easier to walk.

He sat at the gate called Beautiful for many years searching for things of this life. When what he needed was something greater. But one day the timing of God met him at that gate, which means belonging to the right season. He was forever changed by the power of God.

We can also take a lesson from Peter and John. We may not be able to solve all the problems of people in the world. Most of the time what they need is a God encounter. We can do all we can to be a light to them and help them, but it will take God to fully give them the strength they need to walk. They could have walked by and said, “We are in a hurry to go pray.” This is what religion would say, those that are so bound by the letter of the law. Or they could have said, “I can’t help you today.” These are the self-righteous that feel like everyone should get their blessing for themselves. But they did the God thing, and lifted him to his feet so he could walk.

Everything happens when we learn to recognize, the right season and timing of God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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