Triumph Amidst Trials

How are we to approach trials? What should our attitude be? What do hardships mean in the life of the Christian?

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

Firstly, Jesus has just come from telling his disciples how they will grieve when the world rejoices. He says how they will grieve but one day their grief will turn into joy. Jesus compares the grief to a woman giving birth. She anguishes from the pain when she knows that the hour has come, but once the child has been born she no longer remembers the pain she felt and is now over come with joy that the child has been born into the world. John 16:33 simply is telling us, believers in Christ that no matter what we face, Jesus has already overcome and we must not let it get us down.

Tough Tests

For the Christian, sometimes the things we go through on this earth may rock us to our core and make us feel unworthy to be called children of the Living God. Sometimes we are even tempted to ask God, ‘why me?’. This may be because some Christians teach and may believe that once you come to Christ, everything will be smooth and nothing will stand in your way anymore. This could not be further from the truth. Jesus makes it plain” in this world, ye SHALL have tribulation”. In other word, there WILL be trials, temptations, snares, uncomfortable situations you have to go through because of your belief and relationship with the Lord Jesus. There is no getting around them. The devil is only interested in persons who are making moves for the Lord Jesus, those who are already under his spell and trap; he has no need to bother them because they are his. Think about it: a hunter does not shoot the dead birds on the forest floor which he has already lodged his bullets into. Instead, he aims for the highest flying birds, because they are the ones with the most potential and would be considered of best value if caught. So it is with the Enemy, his soul mission is to frustrate and ultimately annihilate those in the services of the Lord of Heaven. This IS his job and so when one chooses to serve the Lord Jesus whole heartedly, you will endure trials. Things will happen to you that will make you wonder if this is really where you want to be. A preacher once said “if you don’t have trials, you need to check your spiritual life”. So for all those who have become discouraged because they seem to have it worse now than before they came to the Lord, realize that Jesus said that this would happen and you must face persecution because you choose to be different and follow the Lord and you must realize also that He has already said “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” so there is no need to fear or be dismayed, in fact, Jesus wants you to be cheerful about your trials.

The Right Attitude To Have

Once you have accepted the fact that trials and temptations, ups and downs, and tests of faith are apart of the Christian experience, then you must now heed the words of the Lord Jesus and “be of good cheer”. In other words, we are to face our tribulations with smiles and with the hope the Lord will be with us and bring us through. There is no point in getting in depressed once trials come, because we believe in a God that rules the universe and can deliver us from anything. Ponder this verse of Scripture:

1 Peter 5:9 “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings”.

Ever heard the song ‘Smile at the storm?’. When we demonstrate this is when our faith becomes mature and we are able to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and thus move those mountains of doubt, grief, and anger that seem to loom so large in our lives, blocking out the sun rays of hope. Sometimes we feel unloved and unworthy when we are going through tribulations, and sometimes we may feel like these things are happening to us because of something we did. But we must know that God’s love reaches to the highest mountain and to the lowest valley and that He will never stop loving His children. Jesus already told us that we will have the trials- which means that He has already taken the steps necessary to see us through! After all, didn’t he say in Hebrews 13 that He would never leave nor forsake us? Praise God before, during and after the trials, be of good cheer and let your face show it! Remember:

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”.

No matter what we have done or are going through, His grace will cover our mistakes, and that’s why the right attitude to have us to be cheerful, have faith God, trust Him, Love Him, Serve Him in the good times and the bad. Then will you see His Love revealed!

Hope: The Reason For Victory

Jesus is hope; in Him we have Life, Praise God! Jesus knew that this world of sin we live in may sometimes throw things at this we believe we can’t handle. Therefore he said “I have overcome the world”. Sometimes the initial reaction of us in this humanly state is to lose heart, lose faith, and ultimately lose hope. This is the completely the opposite of what Christ desires for us. He wants us to know that no matter what the situation is, weather financial trouble, physical illness, mental anguish, or emotional distress; He was already overcome the enemy. He has overcome the sinful world we live in-the one in which the evil one dwells, the one who causes these things to come upon to try to cause our faith in God to falter. It doesn’t matter how much you fall down, what matters in the amount of times you get up, confess your sins wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus and keep on keeping on with Him. Jesus wants you to know that there will never be a time when the enemy is stronger than the power of good and righteousness. Remember:

1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”.

When we we think about what God has done for us, we have no choice but to develop a hope that He will do what he says and no matter the amount of stress, pain, or grief you feel right now, know that the Lord Jesus is there and that he CANNOT fail you. A wise preacher once said “Life without Christ is a Hopeless End, but Life with Christ is an Endless Hope”. Jesus wants us to have that hope, especially when faced with adversity, then strengthens our faith and helps us to know that there really is no need to worry, because if Jesus is there, the situation has already been solved. Ponder this text:

Psalm 31:24 “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord”.

Jesus is saying “I already know you will have trouble, serious trouble. But the catch is for you to be happy during this trouble, because I, your Lord, have already defeated the root of the problem”. That’s why we should pray always and praise God in all situations we find ourselves. If the devil cannot get us down, then his mission is a failure. So whenever you get a little down and start to wonder “is God there?” “Does He still love me?”, you can rest assure in the promise that He is with you always and that no matter the trouble that goes down in the world or your life, we as Christians already know the back of the book: Jesus will come one day in a glorious appearance, bigger than any VMA, Oscar, or Grammy award Ceremony and take those who love and cherish Him, and who have sought to build a relationship with Him while here on the earth; He will take us home where there is no trouble, no temptations, no trials, just joy happiness, and love forever! So don’t be dismayed, God is with you, and He has already overcome the problem, so don’t worry about it, just stay constant in prayer! Jesus loves you more than you can imagine and once your hope is in Him, no one can take victory away from you. The love of God is so insurmountable that it will blow your mind: you could have been leading a life a sin all along, and once you determine in your heart that God is who you want, you confess, and follow Him and He will not cast you out. As long as you live, you will have to face some tribulation, so get used to it. But remember, don’t ever let the enemy make you feel less than worthy or wanted by God because He is your help in time of trouble and He will NEVER leave your side no matter the situation. So smile at your troubles, Praise God for them, through them, and after them, Jesus already won the victory on the cross, and the hope that instills in the heart of the Christian is too much for ANY enemy to handle. Praise Jesus, now and forever!

How are you handling your trials?

God bless you!

Jesus In... Sin Out!

How do we handle sin in our life? How to we break away from its desires? Is the hope for a batter tomorrow?

Romans 6:12: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Romans 6:13: Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.(New International Version)

This passage in Romans 6 challenges us as Christians to flee from sin and obey the word of the Lord. Firstly, the apostle Paul warns us not to let sin reign or thrive in our mortal body so that we don’t fall to its evil desires. The word “mortal” here is important because the world mortal actually means “liable or subject to death”. According to Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death, so allowing a deadly toxin to thrive in a body that is already prone to death would only bring doom to that soul. This is why Paul emphatically said not to let it be there. If as humans our bodies are prone, or subject to death and death is the consequence of sin, then logically we can agree that is human nature to sin. For some reason, though it will ultimately bring death and destruction to those who do not turn away from it, we as human beings seem to love it. In today’s world it’s almost as if it’s cool to sin. Paul also recognized that because of our helpless state of being, if we indulge in sin, we will yield to temptations and allow the habits and desires formed to ultimately take us down a path of destruction. He is literally saying “if you have a sin that you are struggling with, deal with it immediately but do not allow it to grow and spread throughout your spiritual being, this way, you won’t obey it’s desires when they present themselves in your life”.

Secondly, Paul tells us in verse 13 not to offer ourselves as an instrument of wickedness but rather offer ourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life. Paul here is simply saying: serve God only. You can be serving God with 99% of your body, mind, and soul, but that 1% that you still allow sin to have dominion over is the part that will cause your downfall. Jesus plainly said in Matthew 6:24 that you CANNOT serve two masters. No matter how much you think you can, or how much you try, you cannot. This is why Paul encourages us not to offer any part of ourselves to sin as an instrument of wickedness. That would put us in a position where we would be saying that we are serving God, but behind closed doors we are knowingly not living up to the standards we are supposed to. Jesus called these types of people hypocrites. As Paul encourages us to stay away from sin, he steers us away from hypocrisy and ultimate destruction. Paul tells us to offer ourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life. This sets the stage for the stark contrast in Romans 6:23 which tell us that the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. You see those who have been delivered our from a life of sin and are now serving God have literally been brought from walking down a path that ends with death to walking down one which ends in Eternal Life. Paul says this is the type of passion, vigor, and life that we are to have when we serve our God, because we know what He can do for us! People in today’s world may look down on you for being passionate for the Lord but with the immorality that is abounding is today’s society; we have no need to be ashamed. Someone needs to stand up for God’s Standards, why can’t it be you?

Lastly, Paul tells us to offer every part of ourselves as an instrument of righteousness to God. Here he is simply saying to the believer: choose life. You see verse 13 shows both sides of the coin. Death would be offering yourself to sin, but when your offer yourself fully to the Living God of Heaven, you are choosing life. Simply put, When Jesus is in, sin is out! Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 that he is standing at the door of your heart, knocking, and waiting for you to let Him in so that he can sit and sup with you. When you offer yourself to Him you are opening the door of your heart and allowing immense blessings to flow into your life. When Jesus is in your life, you won’t give in to the peer pressure for pre-marital sex, you won’t want to go out and drink and carry on like those who don’t know Jesus. You will see the world from a different perspective and only want to go places or indulge in practices that are pleasing to God. You will be able to stand up for what is right and be light in a dark world. In conclusion, Paul’s message in this passage is simple: Serve God only. Jesus in, Sin out! If we adopt this attitude then we can fulfill the charge of Matthew 5:14-16 and truly be the light of this world, not matter the situation or circumstance we find ourselves in. Jesus is our hope for tomorrow! Abide in Him as He abides in you! No matter what the world offers, choose Jesus today!

Which element is in your life?

God bless you!

Transformers

How can I be a living sacrifice unto God? What is conforming to this world’s standards? Is it possible for my mind to be transformed?

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”.

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.

In the first verse of the 12^th chapter of Romans, the apostle Paul urges the brethren to honour God with their bodies. This is a message that is still relevant to us living today in the 21^st century. If our bodies are the Temple of the Most High God, we must present them holy, and acceptable unto Him. Many folks in today’s society claim that their bodies are their own and so they can do as they please with it. The fact is though, that these bodies which we occupy were bought with a price and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they are on loan from God and should be treated as such; we must use them in a manner that would glorify Him at all times.

How Can I Be a Living Sacrifice?

Paul tells us “by the mercies of God, that ye resent your bodies a living sacrifice”. These words have powerful meaning to the Christian. Firstly, the mercies of God are too numerous to mention. By you waking up every morning and being able to do every-day activities, you are experiencing the mercy of God. We, holy as we try to be, are nothing more that dirty, wretched sinners whose human instinct is to go against God. That’s what sin is: it stands in complete opposition to the Living God as it seeks to break and compromise His Holy Law. Sin is transgression of the Law, and we as humans being born in sin and shaped in iniquity cannot help, because of our nature, to sin. Praise God for grace! When we call on Jesus, we are able to overcome sin, experience grace and live as He would want us to. Protection from danger, loving you even when you purposefully do wrong and, keeping you in good health can all be classified under “the mercies of God”. Paul now says, when you’ve realized how awesome and vast His mercies are to you, that you must present your body a LIVING sacrifice. A living sacrifice would be something that has life and is acceptable and holy unto God. In Old Testament times, the Prophets would often kill sheep and lambs-dead- and offer them as sacrifices unto God. Jesus wants us to be the exact opposite. He wants to treat and use our bodies as a living sacrifice, one that has movement, so others can see how we act and be encouraged to act in like manner. The living sacrifice can still honour God, but it can be used more than once, if you present your bodies a living sacrifice you can share God’s love with everyone you come into contact with. Ponder this:

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world…”

When you present you bodies as a living sacrifice, you will not want to do anything to it or put anything into it that will bring harm to it, as it is the Temple of the Living God. When the pressure comes to have pre-marital sex, use drugs, participate in the consumption of alcohol, and even partake in food that will knowingly do damage to your body, you will be able to stand and say “No, this body is God’s own, and I must treat it that way!”. As you do this, you will be the light of the world and the salt of the earth Jesus talked about in Matthew 5 and others will want to follow the same pattern. You see, Jesus told us in John 12:32 that when He is lifted up, ALL men will be drawn unto Him. So when you decide to swim against the tide, be different from everyone else and present you body as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God because you have upheld the standards He has outlined in His Word, others will applaud this behavior and will be able to do nothing but to see the good in what you’re doing and follow your actions as you follow Jesus’! The only way to become a living sacrifice is to submit yourself totally to God, pray, and be determines; He will then empower you to overcome the snares of the devil and will allow you to show His love with those around you. Remember, we can do ALL things through Christ!

Are you presenting your body as a living sacrifice unto God?

Don’t Conform to the World’s Standards

Jesus made it plain in His Word that light and darkness cannot mix. Therefore, the Christian must never lower his or her standards to that of the secular world. We must in all things, truly put God first and look at the situations we find ourselves in from His perspective. There is a dark, demon-filled world out there and we cannot allow it’s attractive outside appearance to cause us to be caught in a web of sin and sorrow that can be difficult to get out of. Today’s society is all about ‘fitting in’ and being ‘accepted’ but as followers of Christ we are called to stand out, to be different, to be a peculiar people and never to conform or go backward on what we believe. The word conform means “to act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of a society or a group”. This suggests that the standard of God and the standard of the world are light years apart and the apostle encourages us not to be conformed or act in accordance with the prevailing trends we see around us, but to stand out and be a beacon of light in a cold, dark world. Ponder these verses of Scripture:

Matthew 7: 13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:14 “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”.

This is the reason God doesn’t want us to conform; the world allows so many ‘little’ lies and errors to be wrought into its perception and thought, that it corrupts the plain truth! We must be diligent as citizens of the Kingdom here on earth and not be pulled in by the snares of the world. How can it be that Christians claim they believe they were created by God, and then say they also believe in evolution? How can Christians claim that the consumption of alcohol is something that Jesus, the Saviour of this world partook in? How can we say that God’s Law has been changed or nullified? The answer is simple: conformity. The world has planted the little seed of doubt in our minds that there might not even be a creator God and the thought, subtle though it is, has placed itself in the back of our minds. Pastors, Priests, and Christians out drinking alcohol the night before Church and then going to praise the Living God the next morning at a worship service- it’s all conformity! Jesus Christ, the one who’s Blood means life for the Christian did not use fermented grape juice that would be of damage to the bodies of the ones who drank, He’s God! The breaking down and decaying process of the grape is what caused fermentation, where is the life in that? He told in His Word through the Psalmist David years ago that those who are deceived by alcohol are unwise; it is something that followers of Christ should not partake in! How many deaths, unwanted pregnancies and sorrowful tragedies have been caused by this one addictive substance? The answer is that it’s too numerous to mention. People say God’s Law has been done away with or changed; this cannot be so… stop conforming! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever according to Hebrews 13:8 and throughout His Word He repeatedly states that His 10 Commandments will stand forever, they are the standard in which we should live by. We’ve got to get out of this habit of trying to fit in with everybody else and practicing certain things just because everyone else is doing it. Because it feels good now, doesn’t mean it will profit you in the long run. We must stay close to God now, because only in Him can we find refuge and strength. The world offers you no protection. Think of the Prodigal Son, the world offered him its luxurious lifestyle for a while, but in the end he was sucked dry and left in such a low state, he ended up eating pig’s feed. Never dance with the devil, you can’t move like him! We must take the name ‘Christian’ with pride and honour God in all we say, do, and even how we think. Jesus told us to be in the world, but not of the world and offers us to enter through the straight gate and the narrow way, one with standards and one where you cannot act any old way you feel… entering through this gate will lead to Eternal Life. The broad road may seem to have its advantages now but it is all a delusion: the end result of following this path is destruction. Jesus calls us to be different, not to conform, but to be transformed today!

Have you been conforming?

Be A Transformer

Finally, the apostle Paul encourages us, after we have resisted conforming to the worlds standards, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might prove what is the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God. The word means “to change in form, appearance, or structure; metamorphose”. Unlike the world ‘conform’, this world called ‘transform’ does not take on such a negative connotation. You see conforming has to do with swimming with the tide and adjusting your temperature according to the temperature around you; transformation however is a change that is not stirred by your external environment but by something from within that causes you to adjust to different situations as needed. Paul says that we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Yes, it is possible for the mind to be transformed and renewed! To renew your mind, you must be careful of the things you watch, listen to, and the activities you engage in. The only way to renew the mind is to heed the charge of Philippians 2:5 and let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus! You must think as he thought, and approach situations you face in life with a humble, and loving approach. We cannot let the devil sneak into our train of thought; beware of the things we engage our minds in! Satan is a very cunning individual, and he will use his subtly to try and discourage you, make you feel like nothing and ultimately lead you in the totally opposite direction from the one God had planned for your life. We must continue to let God lead in our lives and be converted from conformity and be enlightened to transformation. Ponder:

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

Here we are charged to seek first God’s Kingdom before worrying about the stresses of life and downgrading ourselves by conforming to the standards and practices, of this cruel, cold world. This is a call for transformation! We must be bold for what we believe in and seek to fulfill the purpose that God has for our lives. That’s why when folk ask us why we follow certain religious practices, or pressure us just to ‘have a little fun’ that will be of ‘no harm’ to us, and you know it is wrong, instead of being molded by the peer pressure and conforming to and accepting their request we can be transformers because our minds would have been renewed and say ‘No, God would not want me doing such a thing!’. Just like transformers in the movies, when faced with trouble we will not give in and show our human weakness, but we will change our structure from within, stand up for the standard of the Living God, and be justified in doing so! God loves when we are transformers. Then He will show us His perfect, good, and acceptable will for our lives, all we have to do is ask Him to tell us. When you become a transformer you will be able to show by your fruits that you truly love God with all your mind, soul, and strength and He will reveal to you His perfect and acceptable will. You will be able to walk in the pathway God has designed for you and you will have a peace in your heart that only you and God will have knowledge of. You will be able to truly be an ambassador for the Lord Jesus because with a transformed mind, the devil will have no power! Let us endeavour to be thermostats, ones who set the temperature for those around them-transformers- and not thermometers, those who simply become hot or cold, depending on their external environments-conformers. Be a transformer today!

In conclusion, the apostle Paul encourages the brethren-us- to honour God with our bodies -in essence becoming living sacrifices and also to stand firm for God in such a troubled world and not be conformed or be molded into its shape; don’t engage in its practices. He then encourages us, after we have presented our bodies living sacrifices to God and after we have not been changed by the world’s influence, to be transformers. We must be able to lift up Jesus in times when others seek to put Him down, and when the devil brings his subtle temptations, we can transform because our mind would have been filled with Christ’s love, and fend off his attack. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus! How sweet it is to represent Him and obey His Word! Praise God for the transformers!

Are you a transformer?

God bless you!

Amazing Love

How far does God’s love go? Will that constant sin you commit stop the flow of love? Does God care about you, even when you are rebellious toward him?

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

The amazing love of God, reaches to the vilest sinner and has no preference. Plainly, God loves ALL people, no matter what you’ve said or done in your lifetime. God’s Love is unconditional, and His mercy endures forever and ever. He wants to see His children following Him, but if we stumble, His grace extends far enough to cover us! We must always lean on God in whatever we go through, that’s why Proverbs 3:6 tells us to acknowledge God in ALL our ways. He knows what is best for us.

The Depth of Love

The devil is clever at making us feel less than worthy of going to God for help. Do not be fooled by this tactic, Jesus’ amazing love never fails, and no matter what you go through in your life, God will always be there right by your side. He promised us in Hebrews 13:5, that He would never leave nor forsake us, why worry? Ponder these verses of Scripture:

Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”.

Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him”.

Romans 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life”.

What great love is this! God’s love was so strong for us that while we were sinners, while we transgressed His Law, neglected Him, and did our own thing, He still sent His Son to die for our sins. He knew our sinful thoughts and actions, He knew that we would not talk to Him as much as we should, He knew that we would forget to read His Word and be reluctant to go into His House, yet he extended His everlasting arms of mercy toward us! 1 John 4:8 tells us that God is love, and if this is so we must get to know God in order to understand His great love. His compassion and concern for the well being of His children, stretch way further than you can imagine. There is nothing you can do to cause God not to love you. Jesus not only said in John 15:13 that the greatest love that can be shown is one laying down his life for his friends, He went and displayed the action. He displayed the greatest aspect of love. His unselfish nature and compassionate character allowed Him to look at a bunch of rebellious sinners, and give His innocent blood so they would have a chance at Eternal life in Paradise with Him. Love was so important to the Lord, that He based His entire Law on it. Check this out:

Matthew 22:37 “And Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind’”.

Matthew 22:38 “This is the first and great commandment”.

Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like unto it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’”

Matthew 22: 40 “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”.

Love to God and love to our fellow man are the greatest duties for the Christian. We must remember this in our daily actions, and strive to live up to the mandate that Christ has charged us with. In the world that we live in, everyone is about getting revenge and getting even with others that have done us wrong. This isn’t the way to go about handling our conflicts tough. Romans 12:19-20 tells us that we should leave it up to God to repay; He has the final say, not us. When we have this type of love we can feed our enemies when they are hungry, and give them drink when they are thirsty and “be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”, verse 21 says. You see in this world, we are supposed to be bringing others to Jesus. When you show love to persons who have wronged you, it may spark a change in them and cause them to accept Jesus as their personal Lord & Saviour. You see, love brings salvation! Once we have love first of all for the Living God and for our fellow man, we won’t want to do anything to offend either of them. The Bible tells us that God is love and so if we have God in our lives, we have love! Love is the answer for all the troubles we face in this world, the hearts of men are turning cold and self is being exalted. Instead of lifting up the Lord Jesus in our everyday lives, people use terms like “I’m doin me” and “its all about me” to govern their thinking and everyday lives. Submission to a Higher Power is becoming a thing of the past and consequently we only live for today’s satisfaction. We need to get back to loving the way Jesus did, seeking to hurt and seek revenge on our neighbours is of the devil and should not be a practice for the Christian. Imagine if Jesus took offence to the sins we as a human race have committed and decide not to die, we would have no hope of one day being totally free from sin. Jesus led by example, and if we want to truly be followers of Him, we must show the Agape love that does not discriminate but seeks to reach all.

Love & Mercy

The love that Jesus Christ showed and continues to this human race should boggle your mind. How many times have you ditched Him for some secular activity? Going to His own House and purposely not paying attention? How many times have you chose reading fictional books instead of His Holy Word? Do you keep the line of communication with Him open? Despite all our sin, Jesus stand ready to wash us clean in His cleansing blood. All we have to do is ask Him, He desires to see all of His children saved. No matter how vile of a sinner you think you are, Jesus is a better Saviour. There is nothing that you can do, say, or think that if you confess, you won’t be forgiven of. Jesus said so in His Word:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Sometimes in this Christian journey, we may feel down discouraged, and unworthy to even worship the Living God. We need not feel this way, Jesus knew our hurting before we even told Him, He just wants us to acknowledge His Supreme Power; but it actuality, He has never left your side. The power of God is so awesome that it can turn the vilest sinner into the most effective minister. Think about it: If God loved us so much that He would send His only Son to die for a fallen race that he knew beforehand would miss the mark of His Holy Standard, then His love mercy, and grace will extend to you, no matter what circumstance you find yourself in. Try this: as soon as you wake up in the morning, blink your eyes and move your hands. That is the evidence of the depth of love and mercy that God has for you! We as human beings are only breeding grounds for evil, lies and corruption, we have nothing good to offer to God. Why then does he continue to plead with us and allow His blood to cover our many transgressions? There is only one answer: Love!

Friends, the devil is real and he is very busy. Anyone who doesn’t believe in how much power he has hasn’t been attacked by him. His only purpose in this life is to get you on the highway to hell! He wants to be like the Most High and he will put obstacles in your spiritual pathway and in your mind that will cause you to doubt God an ultimately stray from the faith. The Christian cannot allow this to happen. We MUST rely on Jesus for He is the ONLY hope we have to even make it through even one day. In our last presentation we talked about how we are wrestling against powers and principalities of the devil and that we need spiritual armour to win this fight. The devil is busier than ever because he knows that he has but a short time, we must cling to the Cross of Christ like we never did before. I encourage you, even if you have been walking the devils way for days, months, or years to do like Jesus did in Matthew 4:10 and say ‘Get thee behind me, Satan’! The Love of God is so big that you cannot get around it, and He will accept you back into the fold of saints bound for the Kingdom. Just as Jesus said in the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 18:12-14, so is our Father’s love so strong for us that He will search for the one lost sheep even if he has 99 already in His fold. There is a conflict going on in this world today, between good and evil, between Christ and Satan and only if we accept and abide in Jesus amazing love will we be able to overcome. Ponder Jesus words:

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

Choose Jesus and His love today. No matter where you have been in your life, what you have done or how you have felt towards God, He prepared a place in His kingdom for you, He wants you there! When we truly submit to God’s love, we realize its life changing power, and its ability to turn our lives completely around. You don’t have to do anything to please Jesus, He will come knocking at YOUR door! His love for you will cause Him to seek you and get you out of any situation you may find yourself in. All you have to do is believe and do what He tells you to. When we experience this for our selves, it will captivate us and give us a peace inside that passes all understanding because we know that Jesus will be with us in whatever situation we go through and He will forgive us when we go astray and heal our spiritual lives. These words of this gospel song will then come alive in us:

“Think about His Love. Think about His goodness. Think about His grace that brought us through! For as high as the heavens above, great is the measure of our Father’s Love!”

God bless you!

Wrestling Match

In this fight against good and evil, who are we fighting against? Who fights our battles? How can we be victorious? What is the armour of God?

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.

Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”.

The Bible makes it clear that we as Christians do not wrestle against humans, against things that we can see in this struggle between good and evil. Therefore we need to be prepared as we go throughout or journey to literally “hit what we cant see”. You may not know it but the devil is a very smart person, he knows your weaknesses and he will do everything in his power to get you to serve him. The battle we right are against powers, against doctrines that test out faith in Jesus. Against things that seem right, but in the end will lead to bitter destruction. Ponder this passage of Scripture:

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”.

We must focus, and realize that the enemy is more powerful than we think. He will not hit us with things that we can see with the naked eye, we must have on the armour of the Living God to win this battle. Think about it: the devil knows that if he comes right out and says “serve me”, no Christians whatsoever would do it. This is why he uses different tactics. He does it subtly, through the television, though music, though movies, through ego, through role models. He wants to be served as if he is God, so we must be on guard at all times so that we would be able to defeat the adversary, who is the devil himself.

Spiritual Warfare

As the text has told us, the battle we are in is not against flesh and blood, not against mere humans, but against spirits, against the rulers, against spiritual wickedness. You may not see it right away, but trust me it is there. Have you ever listened to the rapper Jay-Z? He is known as a hip-hop mogul and has sold millions of records during his rapping career. ‘Run this Town’ was a popular song for him and one that most of the world became acquainted with because of its catchy lyrics and retro beat. Listen to some of the worlds he uses in the popular song during his verse:

“Black cards, black cars. All black everything”

“You can call me Cesar, in a dark ceasar”

“It’s the return of thee God, Peace God…”

“Ain’t nobody fresher I’m in Mason”

Now some would look at these quotations and ask the question: Whats the big deal? Let me tell you: if you watch the video, you would see the setting that is being portrayed. Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Rihanna are in all black, with a lot of persons following behind them in all black, carrying sticks, torches and other weapons. If Jay-Z is calling himself “Hova” or “J-Hova” which is a name that is only meant for the Most High God, who is he comparing himself too? Sure, he uses a different spelling but the sound and meaning is the same. He also says that he is ‘Mason’ which a short term for the Free Mason society. On the internet you can find a lot of information about that society, and why it is something that the Christian would not want to indulge in.

You may also know the song ‘Empire State of Mind’ ft. Alicia Keys. It was one of the biggest songs released from his album, The Blueprint 3 and was number one on the Billboard charts. You may be someone who hasn’t heard it or innocently listens, but let’s highlight some of the things Jay-Z says in this song:

“If Jesus paying Lebron, I’m paying Dwayne Wade”

“Hail Mary to the city, you’re a virgin. And Jesus can’t save you, life starts when the Church ends”.

Wow. What a bold statement about the Most High. This man is actually comparing himself and the Saviour Jesus Christ! Now for you basketball fans out there, I think you would agree that Lebron is better than Dwayne Wade but even still, how could he bring the Saviour of the World down to a level that He would be even paying a mere man? Jesus died for the sins of Lebron James, there is nothing that Jesus has to pay for Lebron, Jesus is God, and Jesus created Lebron and Jay-Z. The only thing that Jesus Christ paid for Lebron is the price on Calvary’s Cross so that he, you, I, Dwayne Wade, and even Jay-Z would have a chance at Eternal life with Him. And this is the type of thing we put into our minds each day.

Secondly, this song goes against the entire teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If Jay-Z is telling you that Jesus can’t save you, which is an obvious lie because that was His sole mission while He was here on earth, then who is Jay-Z saying that CAN save you? He says that life doesn’t start until the Church ends, so does that means that those of us who take pleasure in going into the house the House of the Lord don’t have a life? Who gives Jay-Z the authority that says that Jesus, the Saviour, God’s Son, God Himself, Creator, The Light of the World, cannot save you? Is not Jay-Z a mere man created by Jesus Himself? Think about it: if Jay is calling himself the same name as the Living God, and then turning around and saying that God’s Son can’t save you, what is he telling the sub-conscience of his listeners? Is this type of thing from God? No. But it’s not exactly something that is on the surface either. Most persons are too caught up in the hype or the beat to actually realize what these words are saying and how they are downgrading and trying to make of no effect the central figure of our religion: Jesus Christ. Ponder this:

Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”.

We must be aware of the things around us, friends. Jesus would have never indulged in such things that would try to downplay the name of God. Ponder these two verse of Scripture:

John 6:51 “I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world”.

Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the Lord”.

Are these two verses of inspired, Holy Scripture not the complete opposite of what Jay-Z’s music tells us? Now my question is this: Which do you spend more time in? The secular music of the world? Or the Holy Word of God? The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path says the Psalmist David. Which do you let influence you the most?

Signs of the illuminati and demonic phrases and images have crept their way into the music of not only Jay-Z, but also Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Kanye West, and other hip hop and rock artists. All of these persons have a big influence on the ears of even some of us Christians and these things are what we feed our sub-conscience every time we listen. You may say now that you just listen to the music, but you don’t really believe that things that they say; the simple fact is though that your sub-conscience records everything and those message are implanted in your brain. You see the enemy will use his influence in an aspect of our lives that makes us as humans so vulnerable, music. The devil can be complex with his attacks, be watchful of all. The mind is a powerful thing and it can accomplish great tasks, and so he wants to make his mark there and to distort it. Note that this is not an attack on the personal character of Jay-Z, but simply an enlightenment of the music he produces and the content thereof. From drug addicts to even the rulers of the great nations of this planet, the devil tries his best to subtly get persons to follow him because he knows our weakness toward the substance or how much we look up to a role model. The Word of God always has an answer for us and a way to be victorious over the enemy. Ponder this verse of Scripture:

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.

Do you focus your mind on heavenly things?

God’s Armour

Ephesians 6:14 tells us to girt about our loins with truth and have the breastplate of righteousness. This is essential in fighting in this spiritual warfare. Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in John 14:6. The Truth will always set you free and it is a mighty weapon for the Christian. When the enemy comes with false doctrines and temptations that are not of God, you will have the truth of His Word to evade any attack. Next is the breastplate of righteousness. We must have a Christ-like attitude always and not seek revenge on our brothers and sisters. We should be lights and wherever we go, Jesus should be high and lifted up. Ephesians 6:15 tells us that our feet should be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. The gospel will change the lives of people forever. Imagine a planet with some 7 billion inhabitants and Jesus desires a personal relationship with each one. He came and died for the sins and every one and if it was only one single sinner on earth, He would have still came and died for the sins of that person. We must go out and preach the gospel, dispel the enemy, and bring the peace of Jesus Christ into the lives of men and women. Ephesians 6:16 tells us that above all we should take the shield of faith that we would to quench the fiery darts of the wicked. For the Christian, faith is a powerful tool that must be used to the maximum. It enables to accomplish things that for others may see as impossible. It helps us in our everyday journey, it keeps us encouraged, and it pleases our Saviour, Jesus. Ponder what Jesus said about faith in the Word:

Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you’”.

Think about it: If faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, what can faith the size of an apple or even a television set do? The enemy dislikes faith because it will not allow him to be victorious over us. Faith is the victory and we must use it that way. Ephesians 6:17 tells us to take the helmet of salvation, and the sword if the Spirit which is the Word of God. Salvation is found only in Jesus, and because of His spilled blood on Calvary’s cross do we have the free gift of Salvation. That blood made it possible to inherit Eternal Life. We must claim it always and remember that no matter what Satan may try to throw at us, Jesus paid the price and He loves us dearly! The Word of God is something that the enemy cannot withstand. Ponder these verses of Scripture about God’s Holy Word:

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.

You see once you have the Word with you, you would have God with you! The word of God is powerful and amazing and it something that with strengthen you when you are at your lowest. Anything that the enemy may try to feed you, you can test with the Word of God. Satan likes to use subtle errors to throw of us of the straight and narrow. We must not let him do that, the Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path and it will illuminate any darkness that tries to invade the heart or mind of the Christian. The Word is life! Finally, Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Friends, prayer changes things! It is our line of communication with God Himself. It’s a free phone line that runs 24/7. Whenever you have a need, a burden, or just want some advice, prayer is the answer because it is a direct line to God. He always listens to our prayers and answers them according to His will. If the enemy tries to baffle us, prayer is the medium through which we can seek God’s advice. The texts tell s us to pray always, which means without ceasing, keep in constant communication with God and nothing will ever cause you to go astray! Ponder these different pieces of God’s armour that allows us to be equipped for battle against even principalities, and powers. They are mighty and if we are equipped with them, nothing can defeat us.

If the enemy attacked you, would you posses the pieces of the armour to defeat him?

In conclusion, we have seen that we as Christians do not wrestle against mere flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. Not just against the secular influence of the world, but even false doctrines and practices that have crept their way into the Christian Church. The only way to be victorious in this spiritual wrestling match is to have Jesus in your heart and have Him abiding there always. He will give you the tools to fight the battle, He’ll provide the armour. He will show the things to put into your mind and those things that you shouldn’t. He’ll show you what is good to listen to, and what type of music is just a trap of the enemy. He will cause you to drink form the Water He gives, the Water that will cause you to never thirst again, the Water that will be a well in you, springing up into Everlasting Life. Ponder this verse of Scripture:

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me”.

Would you open the door of your heart, and let Jesus in?

God bless you!

Tell The World

What is the Great Commission? How can we do our part in getting the gospel out? How important really is it?

Matthew 28: 19-20 “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: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”.

Jesus wants us to go into all the earth and literally share the good news of His Amazing Grace! Think about it: when you have a party, others find out about it through the invitations given out. Jesus wants His followers to do the same thing: to give the people of this earth an invitation to hear of a Saviour who died for all the sins of man and who wants to give each and every one the gift of Eternal Life. We have got to realize that our God cares for all the people of this world, no matter their situation or circumstance. Weather good or bad, tall or short, black our white, Jesus loves you! Along with this decree, Jesus gives us the assurance that He will be with us always- through our trials, through those depressing moments, through those times when you want to give up-even unto the END He says.

Observing All Commanded Things

Jesus made it clear to His followers that apart of spreading the gospel was teaching people to observe His Law. He plainly stated that we should TEACH men to observe ALL things He has commanded us. Ponder this passage where Jesus connects the commandments with eternal life:

Mark 10: 17, 19 “And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’’

“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother”.

Jesus plainly stated to the rich young man, that keeping His commandments were key in the steps toward Eternal Life. And Jesus even made certain to verify which Law He spoke of. You see, the Jews had some 603 commandments that were not written by the Hand of God that they were bound to. Jesus though, was speaking about the 10 commandments, His Eternal Law of Love, written with His won finger, the one which Psalms 111:7-8 tells us stands fast forever. Jesus was leading by example, relating to this man in the same way that He wants you and I to relate to others, and show them the narrow way which leads to life. Matthew 5:19 tells us that those who do and teach God’s commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. We’ve got to realize that we must keep God’s Law in its entirety. Read James 2:10. We cannot pick and choose which ones we like. This is the same Eternal 10 Commandment Law which contains the 4^th commandment, charging God’s people to observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath. Jesus also gave us commandment to love God and our neigbours. This is actually the fulfilling or full meaning of the Law. If you read the 10 commandments carefully, you would realize the first 4 show our love for God and the last 6 focus on our neighbor. If Jesus made it a point to tell us to observe all things He commanded us, shouldn’t we make sure we are?

Reflect on your spiritual life, are you doing everything God asks of you?

Doing Your Part

The spreading of the gospel is something that requires all hands on deck. We need everyone of God’s followers on board to carry out this great mandate. This message of God’s Love has to be preached to every living soul on this earth. Some people put their trust in Jah, Mohammed, Buddha, Allah and other persons who can’t offer ANYTHING in comparison to what the Saviour Jesus Christ offers us! If you draw a comparison, you would see that with all of these other figures you would have to do certain things and perform certain tasks to get something in exchange from them, you have to find your way to them. With Jesus it’s different though, He makes Himself available to everyone at no cost, and He comes seeking after us. Revelation 3:20 tells us how Jesus is at the door of our heart, waiting to be let in, gently knocking, because He as a desire to have a relationship with each and every one of His children. We must make an effort wherever we are to be a testimony for Jesus. There is a whole world out there in need of this message and it starts with you. Jesus Himself said that before the end of the world, this message must be preached. Ponder Jesus words:

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”.

Jesus plainly stated that before the end of the world, this gospel must be preached in all the world, because everyone deserves a chance to hear of His saving grace. This is why we cannot believe in the “secret rapture” theory. We must realize that we must go through the time of trouble before Jesus comes and do get through it we must heed the warning of the Three Angels Message of Revelation 14:6-12. The first angel talks about Fearing God and getting back to worshipping Him as the Creator of Heaven & Earth. The second angel talks about how Babylon is fallen and its message is that we as Christians should not be engaging in activities or practices that are not of God. It is a call to get out of the world practices that has even crept its way in some Christian Churches today. The third angel warns against worshipping the beast, which has nothing to do with a computer chip, but demands worship and allegiance from its followers. This is why verse 12 of Revelation 14 tells us that the patience of the saints is keeping God’s commandments and having the faith of Jesus. The word for patience literally means “endurance” and so by this we may know that if we follow these guidelines, we’ll be ready for Christ’s coming. Everywhere we go we must be telling the world of God’s love and correcting some of the false doctrines that have even found its way into the Church. Every day we must be a witness and a testimony, even in our own country, school, or home. This message has no exceptions, everyone MUST hear it! Jesus said plainly said the before He comes back the message must go out.

Why not do your part today, and hasten His coming?

The Importance of the Message

There is much importance getting this message out to the world. It is a last call before Christ comes, for everyone to humble themselves and submit to Him. This message of love has within it the steps to Eternal Life with Jesus and it shows the entire world that He is a just and fair God and that He loves all of His children equally. Our God has a desire to see all of His Children saved and even though He knows that all of us will not accept Him, He still wants us to give us a fair chance to hear about Him. He wants us to be receptive to His Word. There are some persons in the world who have never heard the name Jesus Christ. This is why He has charged His followers with such a great task. Also, among those who know Him, some are not following His Word and doing what He requires. Jesus didn’t come to the cross and die for the sins of a few; He came and died for ALL that through Him WHOSOEVER believeth should have everlasting life. Jesus desperately wants to come and take His followers home to be with Him forever. Before that happens this mandate must be fulfilled. He has promised to be with us always, even unto the end of the world. This seems to suggest that Jesus recognized the troubles and turmoil we would go through in spreading the gospel, because some will not be receptive. He assures that He is with us at our lowest, at our highest and always. He doesn’t want us to even think that He has left us alone. Hebrews 13:5 boldly declares that He will never leave nor forsake us and verse 8 of the same chapter tells us how Jesus is the same forever. He doesn’t change. If He was with us then, He will be with us now and forevermore. Spread the good news is what He asks. Why don’t you accept the mandate?

In conclusion, we should be privileged to work for the Master. Also, we should be excited to go and reach others and see them saved in the kingdom. What a sight! There is great joy in knowing that you have played a small part in bringing someone closer to Jesus! Even if we cannot travel to all the countries of the world, we can do our part in our country, our school, our work, our home and if all God’s followers around the globe would take up the same initiative, the work would soon be finished. People need the Lord; there is nothing of substance that this world can offer you! Let’s do our best to get the word out: Jesus is coming soon and He wants all of us to be ready! Ponder Jesus words:

Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according as his work shall be”.

Are you working for Jesus?

God bless you!

A Light In The Darkness

How can one person make a difference in such a big world? How can we as Christians make an impact and let our light shine? How can we cause others to give glory to the Father? Jesus told us:

Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid”.

“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house”.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

Jesus told us plainly, that we are to be the light of this world. Now, there is need for a light because otherwise that area wouldn’t be filled with darkness. For example, if you did have a light in your bedroom in the night, how would you see? The light is necessary to show us the way ahead. So for Jesus to say this there must be some darkness in our world today. With the rise of secularism, people’s minds are being taken off of love for their God and focused on loving themselves. Jesus has called His children out to be a shining light in the darkness, to combat the forces of evil, to lift up His name, and cause people to realize how great the God of Heaven really is. Jesus is calling out a people to reflect the light of His glorious character and to cause others to want to follow Him.

Who Is The True Light?

John 8:12- Then spake Jesus unto them again saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”.

Jesus is clear in this passage of Scripture- He is the light of the world and the way to eternal life. Jesus must be the centre of everything we do. We must try daily to imitate Him, to live how He lived, walk how He walked, think how He thought, and reason as He reasoned. He said plainly, that if you follow him, you SHALL have the light of life- no questions asked. This is the attitude we need to adopt: to be like Jesus at all times. If you look at His life, death & ministry, you would notice that Jesus was always humble, He never cursed anyone out, He never sought revenge against His enemies. He loved persons just by seeing them. He ministered unto them. He didn’t backtalk His parents, He never disrespected His elders, He never backstabbed, He forgave others, He never gossiped, He wasn’t rude. He lived the life that you and I should strive to live every day. The next time you feel yourself facing a difficult situation, ask the questions, “What would Jesus do?” and “Is my light shining?” and it will help you in how you act, relate to others, and it will indeed affect they type of life you live. If you follow Jesus, the powers darkness will have no power over your life.

Are you following in Jesus’ footsteps?

How Can I Be A Light?

The Bible is clear on the fact that Jesus does not want His followers to be mixed up with the world and with the things of this life. We are to be set apart, portraying the character of Christ wherever we go. Jesus said that He is the Light of the world & that we are also lights. We are to be lights, reflecting off the true Light which is Christ Jesus. We are to be a replica of Him! That means we cannot be caught up in everything the world is. Ponder this:

Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”.

Is your mind more focused on this world or on Heaven? In order to be lights, we must not focus on the material wealth that this world has to offer. After all, Jesus is coming back to take us to Heaven, not to leave us here on this sin-sick planet. We need to let our light shine, and let it do so boldly. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:15 that men do not light a candle and then put it under a bushel, they lift it up on a candle stick, so that it gives light unto the whole house. We cannot be shy with our witness of Christ, we must illuminate the house wherever we go. Think about it, what’s the point of having a light if you’re going to hide it away? We should be a witness at home, at school, in Church and out. Your friends and family should notice the difference in you. The only way for us to truly be the light in this dark world is to have Jesus living in our hearts. He is The Light, and He must be in us that we may be lights, reflecting His character always. Revelation 3:20 tells us that Jesus has a desire to live in us, in our heart, and to abide there always. So keep your mind on heavenly things, showing others the way to eternal life, by pointing them to Jesus Christ.

Is your light shining?

Living The Mandate

Let your light so shine before men: let the world know that you do not want to follow the crowd. Dare to be different! Many people claim to put God first in their lives, but their actions say a totally different thing. And like they say, “Actions speak louder than words”. Are you spending enough time in the Light to reflect It? Just because everyone is drinking that Heineken, you don’t have to give in to the temptations of the world. Just because everyone is fornicating, you don’t have to take part. Just because everyone neglects to read their Bible, you don’t have to neglect yours either. Just because everyone is smoking that marijuana, you can dare to be different! That is the purpose of being a light: when darkness looms you are to illuminate the atmosphere. This can be a means of spreading the gospel. According to John 14:6, Jesus is the only way to the Father. When others see you portraying His character in your life and realize that living for Him is the best thing you can do with your life, they will realize truly how good the Father is and want to praise Him for His wonderful mercy! When they see you being like the good Samaritan, helping those in need, forgiving those who have wronged you, and loving others they have no choice but to be drawn to God. Jesus said it this way:

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me”.

Once the character of Christ is lifted up and He is put at the forefront, He was promised that people would be drawn. This goes hand-in-hand with being a light: lifting up Jesus, the true Light in this Dark Age. Ephesians 6:12-13 tell us that we are wrestling against the powers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places and the only way to stand is to have the full armour of God! We must be enlightened. The world must see a difference in the way we speak, think, and interact with each other! Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us and verse 8 tells us that He is the same always. This means that we have no need to fear in standing up for Christ & what is right, but that we should go forth in boldness and illuminate this dark world with our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ!

In conclusion, it doesn’t take an army of people to make a difference. Though the more the better, one person can make a difference in the lives of many if they pattern their life of the Saviour. All we have to do is trust God, He will take us through all our difficulties and He will be right there with you as you go through it. He loves you more than you think. This is why He has called us to be lights. He wants us to show forth His character on earth, so that some of His other children may repent, follow Him, and be saved when He comes! What a Saviour! He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This is why He wants you to shine for Him… because He loves His children so much! The Bible states that Jesus has already displayed the greatest love that can be shown:

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

What did Jesus do for you on Calvary’s Cross?

Do you love Him enough to let your light shine for Him?

God bless you!