Tag: Jesus

In Him: No Condemnation

What is Condemnation? An overwhelming sense of shame that comes from the pits of hell. 

What does the Word God say about this?

ROMANS 8:1-4

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

On this one verse lays the whole of the great sinners hope. In Christ and in Christ alone there is forgiveness and freedom from the condemnation of sin. It promises that there is NO condemnation. NONE AT ALL. It doesn’t say less condemnation. It says none. He will never bring up our sinful past again. It is dead and gone. It had been crucified and buried. All of our mess, mistakes, our sin was condemned at the cross.

Why is there NOW no condemnation? Because the thing that brought condemnation — the law of sin and death, has been broken off our lives, Jesus took on all the condemnation at the Cross!

2 Corinthians 5:21

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

  • The enemy will always remind us of our past, to weaken our confidence, our standing in Christ. But those moments are dead, they no longer speak. 

But one thing that does speak and holds true to its promises is the blood of Jesus!

Reflect ///

  • When the enemy begins to flood your mind with past hurts, sins. Remind him who you are in Christ, that you are forgiven! set free!

Cultivating A Heart of Thanksgiving

We are reminded in this story that what Jesus has done in our lives should never be forgotten. Past, present and future.

LUKE 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 

  • ITS COMMON TO SEE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAS THE SAME OUTLOOK AND THE SAME ATTITUDE OF A CONDITION HUDDLED TOGETHER. 
  • Those who are not thankful are those who conditions never change

SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT PRESENTED WITH A QUESTION FROM GOD BUT AN ACTION AND THAT ACTION IS THANKFULNESS, PRAISE AND HONOR!

“Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. “

There’s something powerful about taking a step of action. 

I believe sometimes God does this to show our Re Action. 

Remember that action portrays character.
We may say we can believe God in a certain area, but are we acting in faith? 

15 And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 

16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” 

THE LEPERS WERE WANTING HEALING BUT ONLY ONE CAME BACK WITH A HEART OF PRAISE! 

THE BEGINNING OF REBELLION IS A THANKLESS HEART.

I NEVER WANT TO ARRIVE AT A PLACE TO WHERE IM NOT GRATEFUL FOR WHAT HE HAS GIVEN ME.

I NEVER WANT TO THINK THAT I CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN

Take a minute and reflect on what the Lord has done, remember when we weren’t faithful, He was faithful!

Remember that pit that He got you out of!

Remember the sin that He freed you from!

Troubled

Psalm 3:1-5

O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.”

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.”

In this text we read of a story of Absalom, David’s son who has rebelled against God and his own father to overthrow David on his throne in Jerusalem. Terrified as David was, David knew who to call in this troubled time. Even those of David’s closest friends would too forsake him and join the ranks of his son. Many thought that David was to far gone for God’s salvation but little do they know that the presence of trouble doesn’t prove the absence of God.

The presence of trouble doesn’t prove the absence of God.

God is the lifter of not only our heads but everything that involves life. He wants to lift our attitude, our hope, our hearts, our minds, our burdens, our feeble hands and most of all our burdens.

When you feel troubled, who do you call? Your spouse? Your pastor? Maybe a close friend? But remember who the lifter of our souls are and that is the Lord.

He is waiting for you, to call out to Him. He will always answer.

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Broken Cisterns

We All have those broken cisterns in our lives, at one point in time or another. The aching for joy, peace or to find contentment in those broken areas of life.

There are many cisterns that offer temporary satisfaction, a quick fix, something that will temporarily quench your thirst but it will eventually run dry. We all have a void, a missing piece in each of us that if we don’t find we will keep searching and searching until we become so dehydrated and close to death.

There is one Well that is not broken nor will it ever. This Well offers peace, hope, joy. It always sustains and never disappoints. It’s always there in any given moment offering refreshment for our souls. This well has and always will be the source of Living Water for all mankind. This Well is Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Sin That Dwells Within Part 2

“The ground that you had gained yesterday, will be a battle for today”

Just like a soldier on the battlefield who is always aware of his surroundings, expecting a battle at any given moment. We too should be on the lookout.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful… 1 Peter 5:8

2. EXPECT A DAILY BATTLE

LIVING A LIFE FOR GOD ISN’T EASY, WERE SWIMMING UPSTREAM. THOSE WHO ARE NOT WALKING IN THE FLESH, FEEDING THERE OWN DESIRES BUT WHO ARE WALKING IN THE SPIRIT WHO ARE NOT GRATIFYING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH, THIS DEVO IS FOR YOU! HERE ARE A FEW REMINDERS:

– EXPECT THE GROUND THAT YOU GAINED YESTERDAY TO BE CHALLENGED TODAY.

– EXPECT THOUGHTS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO THE WORD OF GOD TO FLOOD YOUR MIND

– EXPECT PERSECUTION

– EXPECT WEAPONS TRYING TO BE FORMED

BUT KNOW WHO YOUR CAPTAIN ON THE BATTLEFIELD!

“BUT KNOW THAT THEY WHATEVER WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL NOT PROSPER”

REMEMBER THE PRESENCE OF TROUBLE DOES NOT PROVE THE ABSENCE OF GOD.

REMEMBER WITH EVERY OPPOSITION DOES NOT SIGNAL DEFEAT BUT RATHER MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE. 

EVEN THOUGH JESUS HAS DISARMED THE ENEMY, HE IS WANTING YOU TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS STILL ARMED, HES NOT REAL.

HE HAS DECEIVED MANY, BUT WE ARE TOLD TO NOT TO BE IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES. 

WE MUST KNOW:

HE IS AFTER YOUR DESTINY, AFTER THE INHERITANCE THAT WE HAVE THROUGH CHRIST. HE IS AFTER OUR SOULS. 

BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT :

JESUS OUR VICTOR OUR CAPTAIN IS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, THE ONE WHO NEVER LEAVES NO MATTER HOW INTENSE THE BATTLE RAGES. NO MATTER HOW HOT THE FIRE GETS, NO MATTER THE PRESSURE THAT BUILDS, HE WILL NEVER FORFEIT.

TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER WEAPON THE ENEMY MIGHT FORM AGAINST US, WITH GOD IT SHALL NOT PROSPER!

–   EXPECT HIM TO MOVE ON YOUR BEHALF

  • EXPECT HIM WHEN THE ENEMY COMES IN LIKE A FLOOD THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS RAISE STANDARD
  • EXPECT HIM TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH THROUGH THAT TEMPTATION
  • EXPECT HIM TO BRING YOU THROUGH
  • EXPECT AS MANY AS OUR FOES, WE HAVE FAR MORE FOR US THAN AGAINST US.
  • EXPECT THAT THE GOD OF THE VALLEY IS TOO THE GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN!

Who Shall Ascend?

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 

Psalm 24:3-5ESV

— We don’t approach God with good works so that no man can boast. 

We approach Him with clean hands (innocent: – blameless, clean, clear, innocent, free, guiltless)

We approach Him with a Pure heart

Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

In the Old Testament before the high priests were able to walk in the Holy place God required consecration. And He still requires it! A setting apart, lets face it, we are not of this World! We are to be salt and light to this generation.

This is living the Christian way; keeping a pure heart.

But thank God that through Jesus we are clothed in His Righteousness!

2 cor 5:21

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

How to Have Success

Many people strive for success, but are we striving in the right direction?

For some it’s all about selfish ambition, doing anything to reach the top, being the most famous, getting the most sales, having the fanciest car, having the biggest house in the subdivision, most followers on social media, etc. These are the ways of those who are striving in a different direction to get to the top. The challenges they face will be fought in their own power and will.

  • HOW TO HAVE SUCCESS

There is a God who knows our every need and wants to bless us. He sees our weaknesses and struggles and offers help everyday. Whether it be with our job, our family, our business. In Him there is no striving but resting in His Grace, knowing that whatever challenges you may face, He has already gone before you and by faith we will overcome.

In Joshua 1, God tells Joshua, who is now leading the people after Moses’ death, to “Be strong and courageous” and then He says ” Being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

God gives us two ways to have success

#1 – OBEDIENCE

Actions speak louder than words, are we who we say we are? Our obedience to God says all.

#2 – READ/MEDITATE ON THE WORD

The Word of God is our roadmap our instructions on how to live a life of success.