“The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling
in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” – Matthew 4:16
Month: March 2013
Contentment vs. Coveting
“In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.”
― Henry Ward Beecher
Have you ever stopped what you were doing and seen all of your possessions around you? Are you amazed of what you have?
For some, we take the American Dream too far. We may look at someone who we look up to and think “why don’t I have what they have?” I work just as hard as they do! I deserve this __________ Insert one of the following items. ( Car, House, Outfit, Body, etc. ) When enough is not enough we take it in our own hands and do whatever it takes to move from contentment to covetous.
Stepping out of His Will into the unknown.
We begin to lose focus of our blessings whenever we covet; crave or desire a particular item. We begin to see all these materialistic things that we crave for. The fashion world, the car world, the body world, the whatever you covet world is just what it is. It’s a “world” that is fake but leads you in that direction of believing it would make your life easier and better. Many have found this “world” of their obsession to be financially, mentally and for some physically straining say the least. All for us to say look at me, look what I have, look at what I’m driving, look at me! All to make yourself feel better about yourself or to make your neighbor that you don’t care for jealous. We find ourself distraught at this. The World is telling you, “You will be better off by having it.” It’s an “IT.” And God is whispering the opposite.
“Your Surrounded by beatitudes”
definition of beatitudes – Supreme blessedness.
The word “beatitude” comes from the Latin beatitudo meaning “blessedness.” The phrase “blessed are” in each of the beatitudes implies a current state of happiness or well-being. The expression held powerful meaning of “divine joy and perfect happiness” to the people of the day. In other words, Jesus was saying “divinely happy and fortunate are” those who possess these inward qualities. While speaking of a current “blessedness,” each pronouncement also promises a future reward.
“Your surrounded by beatitudes” is what God spoke to me one time when i was distraught at something that I wanted to have. He began to show me the difference between our needs and wants in life and to be content with what we have, let’s realize it, what we have are the blessings that He has bestowed on us.
1 Tim 6:6-10
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Very commonly, Christianity is presented today on the basis of what you will gain by following Jesus: personal success and happiness, a stronger family, a more secure life. These things may be true to some degree, but we must never market the gospel as a product that will fix every life problem. When the gospel is marketed this way, it makes followers of Jesus who are completely unprepared for tough times. After all, if the “Jesus product” isn’t working, why not try another brand? Also, this sales approach takes the focus off Jesus Himself, and puts the focus on what He will give us. Many have their hearts set on the blessings, not the One who blesses us. – enduringword.com
God teaches all of us to be content of what we have when we continually surrender the temptation of wanting more. That’s the key, continually, not just sometimes but always when we ever strive to have something we don’t need. Now don’t get me wrong, i’m not a minister that believes whatever money you have left over should go to the church; just be smart about your financial decisions and never forget what God has given you.
Matthew 6:28
“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin.”
What Faith is
A sneak peek of a new series entitled “What Faith is”
Faith is the inner knowing that no matter what happens in life, we are loved and can grow into a fuller human being. Faith is the inner knowing, the trust that we have in Christ to know that He is the comforter, Shepard, and most of all our redeemer. In this series we will be taking a deeper look into the scriptures of the live’s who had faced uncertainty, hardships that stretched their faith into an unwavering faith. Join me in the coming month’s as we look at the live’s of Noah, Abraham, Jacob and many more.
Fan or Follower? Part 2
Part 2
“The Fan”
Galatians 5:7-9 ” You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
– It’s definitely an easier life being a fan of Jesus than to live the life by following Him.
So, you want to become a fan instead of a follower of Christ? Here’s how.
Begin with not reading your Word, followed by being lazy and not attending church services, then have no prayer life because after all, you have no burden for the lost. When an opportunity comes to where you can testify or even speak His name in a sentence, be quiet; people don’t like for others to talk about God.
That sound’s harsh but it’s fact and a reality for most called “Christian’s.” They would rather feed their flesh than their spirit.
When Paul is writing this letter to the Galatian’s, Paul know’s what had happened, these people were told that they must follow the law, not to follow Jesus. That is why he states “This persuasion is not from him who calls you.” Paul is upset for those who are giving these people the false words of “living by the law” rather than “living by the spirit.”
The Galatians were saved by faith through grace in Jesus, but now there are others that are telling these new born-again Christians that they have got it all wrong. This sound’s like today’s society, with rapid culture movements and fads that move most people from one place to another place without them even knowing what their getting their self into. That is why the Word of God states. “Test everything; hold fast what is good.” – (1 Thess. 5:21)
What’s the Problem?
FOUNDATION IS THE PROBLEM
Every house, building, facility, etc. must be built on a sturdy, strong foundation and with it not comes a great chance of faulty cracks that soon can deteriorate over time causing a major mal function in the foundation resulting in collapse.
Foundation is the Word, and with the Word we will know the Truth, and by knowing the Truth it will set us free from every lie, notion, thought that would provoke us to daze off, being slumber to not sound the alarm of His soon coming.
This World, this nation has bowed to false god’s by believing lies; a fallen humanity has forgotten it’s God.
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This World need’s follower’s of Christ, not fan’s
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“The past keeps us from running with endurance”
Is it the past that keeps you from running with full endurance? Lies that are being told to you, “Won’t you just quit.” “Why do you even try?”
For me, every mistake is a lesson that I learn. I get up from my knee’s and keep running.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:14)
F orsaking
A ll
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T ake
H im
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It takes faith to run a race, when the Olympian’s are about to run that race that will make history, a new record. They are putting their trust in their trainer. All those times of countless hours in training, practicing for the big event, they run with every notion to win that race. Are you giving it all to run this race? Or have you began to sit on the side lines and watch as your friend’s, family, co-workers who are passing by you, and your only thought is “I don’t feel like running”
I did not know that we lived life by the way we feel! We walk by faith.
As Paul had asked the Galatian’s, I will ask you:
“You were running well, who hindered you from obeying the Truth?”
A New Ministry, A New Opportunity
I would like to introduce to you a ministry that I will be part of in spring of 2013. Teaming up with a fellow minister of mine; God has called us into a ministry that is very unique from the rest. A ministry that is focused on the mentally challenged community that will be mentoring approximately from 10-50 individuals each week at a large facility.
Welcome, New Spirit Outreach Ministries.
My Story: I have had interest to help the disabled community for quite some time now. With a friend that is disabled I know he finds it hard for him to feel welcomed in a church that is not made for his special abilities. And with a challenge of learning, I have had to work extra hard with him to understand the Gospel. But don’t think I’m wasting my time, People ask me how God judges them, my response “Leave that for God, so help them while we still have time.” It’s an invisible society that most would see and pass on by without mentioning the Gospel, these are people as just as much as you and I are, they have a soul that needs nourished, a heart that needs to be filled and a mind that needs to be enlightened with the Gospel.
The Mission:
– To educate, mentor, pastor, mentally challenged individuals and to further their knowledge of the Gospel.
– To present a Christian view on disability issues.
The Vision:
– To reach all disabled individuals with the Gospel
– To have multiple locations
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As we embark on this ministry, we are asking for your continued support of prayers! I will keep you updated and a page devoted just for New Spirit Outreach Ministries!
New Spirit Outreach Ministries is an outreach of the Full Gospel Churches of Jesus Christ.
