The Holy Spirit dropped this phrase down in my spirit several weeks back. I, like most every Christian, want to be effective in life, ministry, family, etc. I also understand that in order for me to be effective I must live my life in line with God's word. After all, it is his will, not mine, that I am to be found accomplishing.
What is the heart of the church? What should be the heart of every Christian? I know there are many more answers to this question than you will get here, but I will only share what God has emphasized to me. I also believe as we get back to doing life and church God's way we will be amazed at the results we get.
The Holy Spirit said to me, "Ministry is loving God and helping people." This would completely cover the New Testament commandment of love. Why did Jesus come? Jesus came to seek and save those that were lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus came to fulfill God's will here on the earth. Jesus was moved with compassion for those who were bound by the devil. Do we want to be like Jesus? Does it matter to us that there are people in our circles of influence who are lost, broken, and/or held captive by the enemy?
We are instructed in the Word to follow the example of Jesus. Honestly, at this time it is the Body of Christ that is to carry out God's will here on the earth. It is you and I that should be carrying this gospel to the lost and dying of this world. We are anointed of the Holy Spirit for this purpose.
I know very often we teach and preach about our rights, authority, and privileges in Christ Jesus. This is not wrong and I will continue to do this. But I also know that every single Christian has a ministry! The ministry we have been called to is called the ministry of reconciliation. What does that even mean? It means that now that you are saved you have a responsibility to allow God to use you to bring others into the body as well.
We as a church must get back to loving God and helping people. When was the last time that your prayer included a request of God to put someone in your path to witness to? When was the last time that you looked for someone to encourage? When was the last time that instead of talking about how messed up someone was you invited them to come to church with you so they could get straightened out?
I am not saying that the church as a whole is not growing, but I do believe that we could gain much more ground if reaching the lost and dying of this world was a top priority. No matter where you are in your life today if you will allow him to God will use you to help others. Always remember that the greatest ammunition that you have is to tell others what God has done for you!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Forgiven
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
Do you believe that the Word of God is true? Do you believe that God says what he means and means what he says? I pray that you answer yes to both of these questions! I do not believe that any of us will every fully comprehend God's love for us on this side of heaven. 1 John 4:8 says, "He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." God does not just have love, but God is love. Romans 8:31 says, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" It is a scriptural fact that no matter where you are in your life today God is for you and he is on your side! Romans 8:39 says, "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Absolutely nothing can separate you from God's love!
So, what is it in your life today that has caused God to be upset with you and not love you anymore? Why is it that you think you are not good enough to accomplish anything for God? Why is it that you look at other people and always feel like you are less than them? Why is it that you think you are a failure? I know this may not apply to everyone reading this, but there are many that deal with these exact issues. I know this because I have dealt with them myself. Very often the reason people buy these lies from Satan is because he has continually attacked them with their past. One tool that Satan uses to defeat the Christian is to get them to disqualify themselves from being used by God because of how they have missed it before in their lives.
Most of us know that the blood of Jesus can cleanse and make brand new the most rank sinner there has ever been. We know that the blood of Jesus can make a man that has been a murderer a brand new man with the nature of God. We might can't wrap our minds around it, but we know it's true! The reason we know it's true is because the Word of God says so!
Then why can't we believe that when we confess our sins that God does just as he has promised and forgives, forgets, and makes us brand new again like we'd never sinned? Hebrews 8:12 says, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Again, did God mean what he said in his word? Micah 7:19 says, "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
This is a far cry from God holding your past and past sins against you. Many today need to realize that God does just as he says. Renew your mind with God's word and no longer let who you used to be determine who you are today! If you have confessed that you have sinned God has forgiven you and cast those sins out into the depths of the sea. You need to remind the enemy of this every single time he brings up just how bad you've missed it! It is time that each of us move forward and accomplish God's will for our lives!
I think if God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. C.S. Lewis
1 John 1:9 NKJV
Do you believe that the Word of God is true? Do you believe that God says what he means and means what he says? I pray that you answer yes to both of these questions! I do not believe that any of us will every fully comprehend God's love for us on this side of heaven. 1 John 4:8 says, "He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." God does not just have love, but God is love. Romans 8:31 says, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" It is a scriptural fact that no matter where you are in your life today God is for you and he is on your side! Romans 8:39 says, "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Absolutely nothing can separate you from God's love!
So, what is it in your life today that has caused God to be upset with you and not love you anymore? Why is it that you think you are not good enough to accomplish anything for God? Why is it that you look at other people and always feel like you are less than them? Why is it that you think you are a failure? I know this may not apply to everyone reading this, but there are many that deal with these exact issues. I know this because I have dealt with them myself. Very often the reason people buy these lies from Satan is because he has continually attacked them with their past. One tool that Satan uses to defeat the Christian is to get them to disqualify themselves from being used by God because of how they have missed it before in their lives.
Most of us know that the blood of Jesus can cleanse and make brand new the most rank sinner there has ever been. We know that the blood of Jesus can make a man that has been a murderer a brand new man with the nature of God. We might can't wrap our minds around it, but we know it's true! The reason we know it's true is because the Word of God says so!
Then why can't we believe that when we confess our sins that God does just as he has promised and forgives, forgets, and makes us brand new again like we'd never sinned? Hebrews 8:12 says, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Again, did God mean what he said in his word? Micah 7:19 says, "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
This is a far cry from God holding your past and past sins against you. Many today need to realize that God does just as he says. Renew your mind with God's word and no longer let who you used to be determine who you are today! If you have confessed that you have sinned God has forgiven you and cast those sins out into the depths of the sea. You need to remind the enemy of this every single time he brings up just how bad you've missed it! It is time that each of us move forward and accomplish God's will for our lives!
I think if God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. C.S. Lewis
Monday, September 16, 2013
Exercise Your Gift
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18
It is very interesting that Paul was talking to the same Ephesians that had already been filled with the Spirit under his own ministry! He is telling Spirit filled people to be filled with the Spirit, right? What he is actually telling them is that God desires that they be continually filled with the Spirit. God wants each of us saved and continually filled to the overflow with the Holy Spirit!
In our church service on yesterday we had at filling and refilling service. We had at least one filled for the first time and many refilled! I am almost positive that every single person we laid hands on began to speak in other tongues. This is God's will for every believer! (If you are reading this and you have never heard or do not understand this subject you need to go to our website, rlcmarion.org, and listen to the service on Sunday, September 15, 2013).
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4
How do we know when we are filled with the Holy Ghost? When we are filled with or full of the Holy Ghost we will begin to speak with other tongues. This is the scriptural evidence that we are full of the Holy Ghost.
Also, it is important to understand that it is not the Holy Spirit taking control of you or the Holy Spirit speaking through you. You do the speaking. The Holy Spirit gives the utterance, or what to say. This has confused many, but understand that God doesn't give you a gift on Sunday morning and then take it back from you. When you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38,39) you now possess this gift and can pray in the Spirit and stay full of the Spirit each and every day of your life.
Now to our focus point:
But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8
This word "power" in the Greek is dunamis which means "inherent power capable of reproducing itself like a dynamo." This is where we get our English word dynamo. The example the Holy Spirit gave me was a generator. We have hurricanes sometimes here in South Carolina. Very often this storm will knock out the power to your home or business. But, if you have purchased a generator you can have power when everyone else's lights are out! Is it enough to have a generator in the storm? Definitely not! You need the generator, but you need fuel is well if you are going to produce power!
I said all of that to say this: When you were given the gift of the Holy Ghost you were given the capability to produce all of the power you need to accomplish everything God has called you to accomplish in this life. But the fuel to keep this power flowing is spending time praying in the Spirit!
What do I need to do now?
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22
You walk in the fullness of God's blessings when you know what to do, and when you do it!
If you are filled with the Holy Ghost you need to make sure you take the time to exercise your gift daily. If you have never done this, begin by taking about 5 minutes each day to pray in the Spirit (tongues). Even though you may be filled with the Holy Ghost it is extremely important that you exercise your gift daily to develop your heavenly prayer language! Do not worry about how it sounds to you for your natural mind will try and make you think you are crazy. Simply know you are obeying God's word and you will see almost instantaneous results in your walk with God.
I will cover in more detail the purpose and benefits of praying in the Holy Ghost next week at the latest. In the meantime it would benefit you greatly to read Kenneth E. Hagin's book "Why Tongues." It is a mini book that you can read in less than 30 minutes.
In Christ,
Pastor J
Ephesians 5:18
It is very interesting that Paul was talking to the same Ephesians that had already been filled with the Spirit under his own ministry! He is telling Spirit filled people to be filled with the Spirit, right? What he is actually telling them is that God desires that they be continually filled with the Spirit. God wants each of us saved and continually filled to the overflow with the Holy Spirit!
In our church service on yesterday we had at filling and refilling service. We had at least one filled for the first time and many refilled! I am almost positive that every single person we laid hands on began to speak in other tongues. This is God's will for every believer! (If you are reading this and you have never heard or do not understand this subject you need to go to our website, rlcmarion.org, and listen to the service on Sunday, September 15, 2013).
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:4
How do we know when we are filled with the Holy Ghost? When we are filled with or full of the Holy Ghost we will begin to speak with other tongues. This is the scriptural evidence that we are full of the Holy Ghost.
Also, it is important to understand that it is not the Holy Spirit taking control of you or the Holy Spirit speaking through you. You do the speaking. The Holy Spirit gives the utterance, or what to say. This has confused many, but understand that God doesn't give you a gift on Sunday morning and then take it back from you. When you receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38,39) you now possess this gift and can pray in the Spirit and stay full of the Spirit each and every day of your life.
Now to our focus point:
But you shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8
This word "power" in the Greek is dunamis which means "inherent power capable of reproducing itself like a dynamo." This is where we get our English word dynamo. The example the Holy Spirit gave me was a generator. We have hurricanes sometimes here in South Carolina. Very often this storm will knock out the power to your home or business. But, if you have purchased a generator you can have power when everyone else's lights are out! Is it enough to have a generator in the storm? Definitely not! You need the generator, but you need fuel is well if you are going to produce power!
I said all of that to say this: When you were given the gift of the Holy Ghost you were given the capability to produce all of the power you need to accomplish everything God has called you to accomplish in this life. But the fuel to keep this power flowing is spending time praying in the Spirit!
What do I need to do now?
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22
You walk in the fullness of God's blessings when you know what to do, and when you do it!
If you are filled with the Holy Ghost you need to make sure you take the time to exercise your gift daily. If you have never done this, begin by taking about 5 minutes each day to pray in the Spirit (tongues). Even though you may be filled with the Holy Ghost it is extremely important that you exercise your gift daily to develop your heavenly prayer language! Do not worry about how it sounds to you for your natural mind will try and make you think you are crazy. Simply know you are obeying God's word and you will see almost instantaneous results in your walk with God.
I will cover in more detail the purpose and benefits of praying in the Holy Ghost next week at the latest. In the meantime it would benefit you greatly to read Kenneth E. Hagin's book "Why Tongues." It is a mini book that you can read in less than 30 minutes.
In Christ,
Pastor J
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Whose Plan Are You Following?
Luke 22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
KJV
Do you believe that Jesus is our example? Do you believe that we can follow his example? According to God's word Jesus is an example that each of us as Christians can, and should, follow.
When Jesus made this statement above he was in the garden headed to the cross to die for you and I. Very often we do not realize that Jesus was facing this impending death dealing with the same exact feelings that you and I would have.It is true that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. But it is also true that Jesus stripped himself of his deity and became a man like you and I. Jesus walked this earth as a man anointed of the Holy Ghost just like us!
What I really want to focus on is what Jesus said in this passage. Jesus said, "not my will, but thine be done." This word will means "desire, choice, purpose, or plan." Do you see what Jesus was saying to God the Father? Do you still remember that Jesus is our example and we are supposed to be following him? Jesus was telling the Father that he was not here to accomplish what he wanted, what he desired, or what he would choose. Jesus told the Father that he was not here to accomplish his purpose, but God's!
Whose plan are you following today? Whose desires are you fulfilling today? Are you doing what you want to do or what God wants you to do?
This is what the Holy Spirit spoke to me recently: "The problem with most of my people, especially faith people, is that they have forgotten why Jesus was here. They will tell you that Jesus is the best example of faith. They will tell you that they are to follow him. But, what they have forgotten is that the entire time that Jesus was walking in faith on this earth he was accomplishing my will, and not his own."
The number 1 purpose of faith in the life of the believer is to bring God's will to pass in their lives!
I am not telling you to do anything that I have not been doing. It is time that we examine our lives to see whose plan we are trying to fulfill. Very often we are struggling terrible because we are trying to use our faith in God to accomplish our wills, plans, and desires! God's will is first and foremost his word, but he also has a specific plan for your life that you must pray out and then step out by faith to accomplish!
In Christ,
Pastor Jason
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
KJV
Do you believe that Jesus is our example? Do you believe that we can follow his example? According to God's word Jesus is an example that each of us as Christians can, and should, follow.
When Jesus made this statement above he was in the garden headed to the cross to die for you and I. Very often we do not realize that Jesus was facing this impending death dealing with the same exact feelings that you and I would have.It is true that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. But it is also true that Jesus stripped himself of his deity and became a man like you and I. Jesus walked this earth as a man anointed of the Holy Ghost just like us!
What I really want to focus on is what Jesus said in this passage. Jesus said, "not my will, but thine be done." This word will means "desire, choice, purpose, or plan." Do you see what Jesus was saying to God the Father? Do you still remember that Jesus is our example and we are supposed to be following him? Jesus was telling the Father that he was not here to accomplish what he wanted, what he desired, or what he would choose. Jesus told the Father that he was not here to accomplish his purpose, but God's!
Whose plan are you following today? Whose desires are you fulfilling today? Are you doing what you want to do or what God wants you to do?
This is what the Holy Spirit spoke to me recently: "The problem with most of my people, especially faith people, is that they have forgotten why Jesus was here. They will tell you that Jesus is the best example of faith. They will tell you that they are to follow him. But, what they have forgotten is that the entire time that Jesus was walking in faith on this earth he was accomplishing my will, and not his own."
The number 1 purpose of faith in the life of the believer is to bring God's will to pass in their lives!
I am not telling you to do anything that I have not been doing. It is time that we examine our lives to see whose plan we are trying to fulfill. Very often we are struggling terrible because we are trying to use our faith in God to accomplish our wills, plans, and desires! God's will is first and foremost his word, but he also has a specific plan for your life that you must pray out and then step out by faith to accomplish!
In Christ,
Pastor Jason
Saturday, June 29, 2013
June 29, 2013
Pray for one another
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16
I don't think many Christians realize just how important it is that we spend time in prayer for each other. We have so many things to deal with in our own lives each day that there doesn't seem to be much time left for anything or anyone else. I understand schedules and time constraints myself. Laura Leigh and I seem to be going and doing for the church every day. We must take time for each other in order for our marriage to be healthy. Then, we have Jay, Lauren, and McKenzie to take care of also. It is important that we do take care of all of our responsibilities.
We also teach people that God wants you blessed (3 John 2). We teach you how to pray and walk by faith to receive those blessings. Again, there is nothing wrong with you being blessed.
But, we cannot forget those around us that God has placed in our lives! This is one area that being in ministry gives me a different viewpoint than others may have. I want to say something to you now that you may not realize, but it's still true. There are people in your life right now that are facing some of the biggest battles they have ever faced in their lives! Most people don't want everyone to know what they are facing, but that doesn't mean they aren't facing anything.
I want to leave you with an example of this recently. The Holy Spirit strongly prompted me to minister along a specific line on a Thursday night. This was different than what I had planned, but I obeyed. He told me, "there is somebody in your midst this night that their life is hanging in the balance." Now, I had to step out by faith because I knew of no one in my church that was in this situation. This message was about your thoughts and how the devil had been lying to them that there was no hope. I was shocked at the response! Although I didn't know of anyone facing these situations, God did! I cannot tell you how many people came through the line to tell me how much it was for them. Every single cd we made was gone immediately after service.
I learned shortly after this message that someone within my congregation had been serious contemplating taking there life. If I would have been given 10 guesses about who this person was I would have never guessed. This only further proves my point!
Pray for yourself, pray for your family, pray for your finances, and pray for your health. Please don't forget to spend time praying for one another! You never know what others are going through at this time in their lives. Your prayers make much power available! Slow down with all that you have going on and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. As he impresses someone upon your heart pray for them how he leads you to. Your prayers can make all the difference they may need!
In Christ,
Pastor J
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16
I don't think many Christians realize just how important it is that we spend time in prayer for each other. We have so many things to deal with in our own lives each day that there doesn't seem to be much time left for anything or anyone else. I understand schedules and time constraints myself. Laura Leigh and I seem to be going and doing for the church every day. We must take time for each other in order for our marriage to be healthy. Then, we have Jay, Lauren, and McKenzie to take care of also. It is important that we do take care of all of our responsibilities.
We also teach people that God wants you blessed (3 John 2). We teach you how to pray and walk by faith to receive those blessings. Again, there is nothing wrong with you being blessed.
But, we cannot forget those around us that God has placed in our lives! This is one area that being in ministry gives me a different viewpoint than others may have. I want to say something to you now that you may not realize, but it's still true. There are people in your life right now that are facing some of the biggest battles they have ever faced in their lives! Most people don't want everyone to know what they are facing, but that doesn't mean they aren't facing anything.
I want to leave you with an example of this recently. The Holy Spirit strongly prompted me to minister along a specific line on a Thursday night. This was different than what I had planned, but I obeyed. He told me, "there is somebody in your midst this night that their life is hanging in the balance." Now, I had to step out by faith because I knew of no one in my church that was in this situation. This message was about your thoughts and how the devil had been lying to them that there was no hope. I was shocked at the response! Although I didn't know of anyone facing these situations, God did! I cannot tell you how many people came through the line to tell me how much it was for them. Every single cd we made was gone immediately after service.
I learned shortly after this message that someone within my congregation had been serious contemplating taking there life. If I would have been given 10 guesses about who this person was I would have never guessed. This only further proves my point!
Pray for yourself, pray for your family, pray for your finances, and pray for your health. Please don't forget to spend time praying for one another! You never know what others are going through at this time in their lives. Your prayers make much power available! Slow down with all that you have going on and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. As he impresses someone upon your heart pray for them how he leads you to. Your prayers can make all the difference they may need!
In Christ,
Pastor J
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
June 4, 2013
Keep the Faith
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
It is very easy to get frustrated by what you see or what you don't see. I see so many people get frustrated because it doesn't look like the things God has promised them are coming to pass in their lives. I surely have not arrived, but I know that just because things don't look a certain way doesn't mean that God is not moving.
God is always at work on your behalf and he has your best interest at heart! The only way that you will fail when you are following God is to stop following him because things don't look like God's plan is coming to pass. Don't be moved by what you see! God is an awesome God and always keeps his word.
I have seen this in my life more times than I can recount. But I can also say that as I look back today God was moving all along.
What is it today that you feel isn't coming to pass as God promised you? Have you prayed the prayer of faith only for things to get worse instead of better? Do not be moved by what you see! Satan uses circumstances to try and discourage you from standing on the word! Hold fast to the confession of your faith in God and his word and you will see that the work he has begun in you he will bring to completion.
I will leave you with one of my favorite scriptures:
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:27
In Christ,
Pastor J
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
It is very easy to get frustrated by what you see or what you don't see. I see so many people get frustrated because it doesn't look like the things God has promised them are coming to pass in their lives. I surely have not arrived, but I know that just because things don't look a certain way doesn't mean that God is not moving.
God is always at work on your behalf and he has your best interest at heart! The only way that you will fail when you are following God is to stop following him because things don't look like God's plan is coming to pass. Don't be moved by what you see! God is an awesome God and always keeps his word.
I have seen this in my life more times than I can recount. But I can also say that as I look back today God was moving all along.
What is it today that you feel isn't coming to pass as God promised you? Have you prayed the prayer of faith only for things to get worse instead of better? Do not be moved by what you see! Satan uses circumstances to try and discourage you from standing on the word! Hold fast to the confession of your faith in God and his word and you will see that the work he has begun in you he will bring to completion.
I will leave you with one of my favorite scriptures:
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:27
In Christ,
Pastor J
Monday, May 21, 2012
Do Not Be Deceived
2 Timothy 3:12,13
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Should we be surprised at what we see going on in the world today? Should we be surprised at what we see going on in the church today? As I study God's word my answer would have to be absolutely not. God has prepared us for all that we will face in this life through his word. The Word of God must be our handbook for Christian living.
As I keep up with all that is going on in our country it is shocking to me as well. It is appalling that the leader of our country would come out openly in support of what God himself has condemned. Following this announcement there has been a flurry of other people and large groups that have done the same. This could very easily disturb me as well. To be honest it did get me stirred up at first. Then, I began to study the word of God. I see not only has God warned me as a Christian about all that is going on right now, but he also encouraged me not to be troubled by anything that I hear or see. The bottom line is that the ultimate authority is God's word. I pray for my president and the leaders of my country. But the word of God instructs me that his word is the highest authority. When any leader or minister contradict that word I am not to support them or follow them in that area. That is what is going on right now. I encourage every single Christian to not be led by all that you see and here. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and lead you through God's word. Remember that wrong does not become right just because someone calls wrong right.
There are many Christians today that have gone astray and been deceived by listening to people that contradict God's word. They say if God loves everyone then he would never say anything against what someone is doing. God is love and he cannot be separated from his Word. God also hates sin. It is sin that put Jesus on the cross to begin with. It was sin that separated mankind from God. Jesus died to pay the price for our sin and make a way back to God for us. To celebrate sin is to reject Jesus and what he has done for us. Proverbs 14:34 (Amp) says, "Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, bit sin is a reproach to any people." The church is to be the salt of the earth and the light to this lost and dying world. We cannot do this by buying into Satan's lies and deceptions.
I encourage each of you to avoid deception from the enemy by allowing the bible to be the filter by which you pass everything through in your life. As Christians, we must live by the Word of God, not what others say.
This is in no way a letter of attack towards anyone. This is to encourage everyone who claims to be a Christian to get back to God's word. Thank God today that if we build our lives and churches on the foundation of the Word of God then we have absolutely nothing to be concerned about! God is on our side!
In Christ,
Pastor J
Should we be surprised at what we see going on in the world today? Should we be surprised at what we see going on in the church today? As I study God's word my answer would have to be absolutely not. God has prepared us for all that we will face in this life through his word. The Word of God must be our handbook for Christian living.
As I keep up with all that is going on in our country it is shocking to me as well. It is appalling that the leader of our country would come out openly in support of what God himself has condemned. Following this announcement there has been a flurry of other people and large groups that have done the same. This could very easily disturb me as well. To be honest it did get me stirred up at first. Then, I began to study the word of God. I see not only has God warned me as a Christian about all that is going on right now, but he also encouraged me not to be troubled by anything that I hear or see. The bottom line is that the ultimate authority is God's word. I pray for my president and the leaders of my country. But the word of God instructs me that his word is the highest authority. When any leader or minister contradict that word I am not to support them or follow them in that area. That is what is going on right now. I encourage every single Christian to not be led by all that you see and here. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and lead you through God's word. Remember that wrong does not become right just because someone calls wrong right.
There are many Christians today that have gone astray and been deceived by listening to people that contradict God's word. They say if God loves everyone then he would never say anything against what someone is doing. God is love and he cannot be separated from his Word. God also hates sin. It is sin that put Jesus on the cross to begin with. It was sin that separated mankind from God. Jesus died to pay the price for our sin and make a way back to God for us. To celebrate sin is to reject Jesus and what he has done for us. Proverbs 14:34 (Amp) says, "Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, bit sin is a reproach to any people." The church is to be the salt of the earth and the light to this lost and dying world. We cannot do this by buying into Satan's lies and deceptions.
I encourage each of you to avoid deception from the enemy by allowing the bible to be the filter by which you pass everything through in your life. As Christians, we must live by the Word of God, not what others say.
This is in no way a letter of attack towards anyone. This is to encourage everyone who claims to be a Christian to get back to God's word. Thank God today that if we build our lives and churches on the foundation of the Word of God then we have absolutely nothing to be concerned about! God is on our side!
In Christ,
Pastor J
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