Tag Archives: God
WHAT IS FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
Let’s look at a brief definition of these two Christian virtues. The key word here is “brief” as the complete Holy bible is about faith and righteousness.
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Faith is a secure and unquestioning belief in God, a trusting acceptance of God’s will and truth.
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Righteousness is being spiritually and morally upright; without guilt or sin.
We receive salvation and hope of eternal life by the grace and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
We become a new creation different from all others in the world. We are unique as we have eternal life in us now. We will go on living even after this corruptible body we are entombed in returns to the dust of the ground. We need the righteousness of Christ in us as our righteousness is described by God as a filthy rag. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. But through the grace of Christ we are made Holy, sanctified, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. The perfect, sinless body of Christ resides in us NOW. We need to be reminded of this that we are Holy, belonging to Jesus Christ, bought and paid for with the high price of His blood. We are no longer of this world. We are citizens of heaven.
Galatians 3:7-9, 14 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Romans 4:5, 11 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness
As I said earlier we need to be reminded and how are we reminded? God’s Word says by preaching!
Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ” How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
The preaching of faith and righteousness is for all men whether they are lost or saved. We are to grow in the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Those of us who are saved are all preachers of righteousness we are called to be priests of God. Spread the truth of faith and righteousness for all the earth to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
The fields are ripe for the harvest and needs many workers!
God bless your preaching!
GOD’S INSPIRATION
1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.
FIFTH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
I have covered four of the fruits of the Spirit in previous articles and now will get into the fifth fruit of the Spirit, kindness.
Kindness is one of those virtues of God that is just there. God’s kindness is the opposite of cruelty and exhibits compassion and sympathy. The definition of kindness in the Oxford dictionary is: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Yet people can show the kindness defined in the dictionary and never be compassionate or considerate. God’s compassion is like shoving you out of the way of a bus and letting the bus hit Him instead. That is exactly what Christ did for us on the Cross and there is no greater kindness than that God would take on the flesh of a man and give His life for mankind on the Cross so that we could continue living forever.
The apostle Paul understood Godly kindness and suffered more than any man showing the kindness of Christ through him.
2 Corinthians 11:25, 28 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; besides the other things, what comes upon me daily:
2 Corinthians 6:4, 6 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God:…, by kindness…
Ephesians 2:4 -7 God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Paul also tells us that we as believers are to follow his example and display the kindness of Christ who lives in us.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness
Read the Holy Word of God and pray that you understand what the real spiritual kindness of God is all about. Follow His example not the ways of this world.
I pray that God blesses you and gives you peace.
PREACHER, TEACHER, WHAT ARE YOU?
Preaching the gospel is the most wonderful, scintillating, and powerful way to communicate to another human being. Jesus’ believers know that from the time they wake up till they go to sleep at night, they should seek any opportunity to share the truth about the Grace of Jesus Christ with someone who is lost and is willing to hear. It is truly exciting! The angels in heaven sing praises to God for every one who is saved.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:14, 9-10, 17
There was a time when the Church in Jerusalem was persecuted so severely the believers were driven out of Jerusalem but did that discourage them from preaching the gospel? No! Everywhere that they went they shared the good news of the Kingdom of God and salvation through Jesus Christ.
And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.- Acts 8:1, 4
One doesn’t have to be ordained to teach the Word of God. Jesus made it plain enough that we are commanded to teach others what He has taught us. At one time Jesus sent out 70 disciples to teach His word to anyone who would listen.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.- Hebrews 5:12-14
Don’t be idle as one on milk! Spread the Gospel! There are literally billions of people on this earth who are not saved especially in China and India, the two most over populated nations in the world. And above all, pray that you be given opportunity as Jesus commands.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: – Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus is effectually sending all believers out to teach the word of God.
I pray that Jesus blesses you all that you bear much fruit!
AMERICA’S WAKEUP CALL
A blogger made a comment to me: “maybe the reason God allowed Obama to be president was to give America a wakeup call”. That is a very interesting thought. God could be waiting to see how we react, now that we have a new president, to see if we take the opportunity to turn back to HIM. I firmly believe that God was directly involved in the presidential election. God has made it apparent that He wants us to take notice.
When God gave the nation of Israel their first king He told them to serve God and don’t rebel against His word and everything would work to the good for them. We as a people need to follow this example and be sure we follow God. God is willing to bless this nation now if we will only turn to Him and stop all the ungodly things that America has embraced in recent years.
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king. — 1 Samuel 12:14,25
It is time to stand up and be counted that we are committing to God, the president, and this nation. Then we will be blessed beyond measure. God can take away blessings and then restore them twofold. Read the book of Job in the bible to see God in action. Our problem is we don’t believe God.
Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD. — Lamentations 3:40
It doesn’t matter whether someone is professing Christian or not. God is not a respecter of persons. God does not withhold the needs of people because they are unbelievers. God loves all people. He loves you! God created the heavens and the earth to be inhabited by men for a very important reason. All creation is meant for the inspiration, edification, and encouragement to men everywhere to learn about God and to have free moral agency as to whether they want God in their lives. But He does not discriminate against anyone. He loves you and wants to give you His blessings only if you let Him. He says in His word that He is always at your door knocking patiently waiting for you to let Him in.
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. — Matthew 5:45
You can trust God and He promises to never forsake you or leave you.
God teaches us to love Him and to love our neighbors just as we would like for them to love us. May God bless your life for reading this!
Christian Metamorphosis
Have you ever read the story about how butterflies go through a life cycle known as complete metamorphosis. The life cycle stages that they go through include: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
The butterfly lays a very tiny fragile egg on the leaf of the milkweed plant. The egg then begins to grow and change into the larvae (caterpillar). After a short while the caterpillar excretes a substance that covers its whole body. This substance protects its body as it goes through a miraculous change. Then a most beautiful creation appears in the form of a fabulous butterfly.
We humans are very much like that caterpillar worm until God attracts our attention and we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. He sends His Holy Spirit to spin a protective cocoon over us and we begin to be transformed into a new creation that will burst forth into a glorious new body into the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Philippians 3:21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body,
1 Corinthians 15: 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
We shall see Him as He is and be as He is, we will share all His glory in the Kingdom of God.
John 17:22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
1 Peter 3:4… with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
We become a beautiful, gentle and quiet spirit in the family of God.
GOD DECIDES WHO LEADS
God will decide who our leaders will be!
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
God will deliver us from those who are our political enemies if we believe in Him.
2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”
Wake up!
God will provide the right person to lead this nation. Now is a time to believe God can do what He says He can do.
PRAY! Look to Him!
God is still on His throne!
God Bless The United States Of America!
THE FOURTH FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LONGSUFFERING
As I start to write about the fourth fruit of the Spirit, I cannot help but think of civil unrest in this nation right now. If there was ever a time for the implementation of the fourth fruit of the Spirit it is now. As I write there are numerous rioting events actively taking place. I realize that not all people are of the Christian faith and will not give heed to this but we all need to consider being longsuffering even those who are not Christian or of any religion. To rashly take up an attitude of violence is not the answer. But loving your neighbor as you would yourself is!
Here are some of the events of this year alone and seemingly increasing.
List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2016
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2016 – Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, January–February 2015. 1 killed and several dozen arrested. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
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2016 – Salt Lake City, Utah. Feb. 27. Locals clashed with police after the Shooting of Abdullahi Omar Mohamed.
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2016 – 2016 Donald Trump Chicago rally protest, March 11. Five people arrested and two police officers injured during a demonstration at the UIC Pavilion.
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2016 – Democracy Spring rally in April. March to Washington D.C. and sit-ins lead to arrests.
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2016 – Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California, April 29. 20 people were arrested as crowd turns violent outside the Trump rally. Anti-Trump protesters clashed with pro-Trump supporters.
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2016 – Donald Trump rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 25
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2016 – At least 261 people were arrested across the U.S. in protests in New York City, Chicago, St. Paul, Minnesota; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and other cities. In St. Paul, bottles and rocks flew as over twenty officers were injured. The protests were held in response to the officer-involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
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2016 – 2016 Milwaukee riots, Sherman Park, August 13–15. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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2016 – 2016 Charlotte riot, September 20-21. Riots started in response to the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by officers. What started as a protest turned violent. Protesters were hijacking trucks, looting their contents then setting them on fire. Traffic on Interstate Highway 275 was stopped, forcing the occupants to drive while rioters sat on top of their vehicles. At the site of the shooting police vehicles were destroyed, and nearby the windows at the Omni Ritz Hotel were shattered. Looting occurred at a Walmart in northeastern Charlotte as well as a CVS pharmacy, a convenience store, and the Charlotte Hornets team store in Uptown Charlotte. After 12 officers were injured, the use of tear gas was approved to disperse the crowds. The National Guard and the North Carolina Highway Patrol were also called in.
God’s Word always inserts the way of peace in man’s heart!
The fruits of the Spirit are listed in God’s Word.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
This nation needs God’s intervention in the hearts of all the people. This nation needs to consider doing what God says in His word.
Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Those words have a lot of power in them if only people will believe. There is no need for what is happening to this nation. I am certainly not condoning killing of people by police or rioters.
Romans 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
We need to strengthen ourselves according to God’s word not the word of men.
Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering
God loves you and He wants kindness and gentleness for you!
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Leaving all things in God’s hands leads to a life of peace where there is no crime, killing, riots, or fear in the streets of our cities.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation
SALVATION!
Yeah I know! there are those who will read this and say: The do-gooders always want to bring God into it. What is happening isn’t God’s way. What is happening is man’s feeble attempt to bring on anarchy and is failing miserably. God’s way is the opposite. Here is how He would handle it.
1 Timothy 2: 1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
2 for kings (world leaders) and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
It all starts with you. You can make this good and acceptable in your sight!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU IN SO DOING! AMEN!
THE THIRD FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PEACE
The third fruit of the Spirit helps mold our minds to be Christ like.
As I continue to expound upon the fruits of the Spirit we come to the third fruit of the Spirit. Let’s be mindful of how important they are to God. God wants us to understand why we need the impact of the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
How do we get this peace that Jesus talks about so much in His Word? First of all if God calls you to salvation through Jesus Christ and His saving grace and you acknowledge that you are a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins He will do so. His Holy Spirit will then begin to dwell inside you and fill you with understanding of the fruits of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Jesus shares His peace!
Jesus wants to share everything about Him with us and He gave His life to make it possible. He tells us in the gospel of John just before He was crucified on the cross how much He wanted us to have His kind of peace.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
God sent Jesus to this earth in the form of a man to preach a message of peace.
Jesus came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God and taught all things pertaining to the Spirit because as of that time no one had received the Holy Spirit of salvation. The Jews thought they would be saved by keeping the LAW, they did not understand the things of the Spirit. That is why it was imperative for Him to teach about the fruits of the Spirit and explain peace, the subject today. Acts 10:36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all —
God teaches us that to do good, be spiritual minded, and to preach the gospel of peace to all people will also build a well of peace in our own hearts.
Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
GOD BLESS YOU! AMEN!
WORLDWIDE INTERNET EVANGELISM 