Posts Tagged ‘hope’

Excerpt Chapter 4 Out of the Darkness

Posted: January 4, 2015 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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Chapter 4

My Father as a Rolling Stone: God’s Purpose in Salvation

 

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
– Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you
to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
– Ezekiel 36:26–27

 

 

In chapter 3, we talked about God’s plan of salvation. Redemption is a divine act by God to deliver the soul of man from sin, death, and Satan. Salvation is God’s divine plan of love, expressed through His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from remaining eternally separated from God, condemned to spend eternity in hell. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s command and ate the fruit from the tree in the garden of Eden, sin entered into the world, for Satan had deceived man to disobey God.

            According to 1 John 3:4–5, sin is lawlessness, and it was for this reason that Jesus came into the world. “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.”

In Romans 5:12–19, the scriptures explain the origin of sin, sin’s effects from the beginning of time to today, and the relevance of Adam’s life in comparison and contrast to the life of Jesus.

‘Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: the judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.’ (Romans 5:12–19 NIV)

            As an educator, I often use the illustration of a boulder, a steep hill, and a little village in a valley to explain to my students what can be the result of their poor choices and actions in the course of a school day and how they relate to life in general. “Imagine being at the top of a steep hill,” I say to them. “Standing before you is a huge boulder, and off to the side is a sign that says, ‘Danger! Please do not push!’ Intrigued by the sign and curious about the unknown danger surrounding this rock, you want to investigate. What possible danger could there be in pushing the boulder? you wonder, and the idea of pushing the boulder becomes even more enticing. You choose to push it. It is only after you have set the stone in motion and watched it disappear from view that you look beyond the steep hill where you stand. You notice a little village in the valley below, directly in the path of the boulder you just pushed over.

          “Immediately you are gripped with horror, anxiety, and guilt for the actions that you now recognize as foolish. You ignored the sign, not realizing the significance of your action until it was too late. As your heart pounds and races, the boulder momentarily appears to be moving in slow motion. You think about what you could do to change the outcome of your actions. I could run ahead of the boulder and try to stop it! Before you can even finish this thought, you realize how impossible it would be, and how foolish it sounds. You then think to yourself, I could outrun the boulder to warn everyone in the village below about the devastation that is fast approaching! You inevitably realize that nothing can be done to stop the boulder from rolling until it comes to a place of rest. The village in the valley is now destined to experience and suffer the consequences of your decision to push the boulder. You watch in agony, guilt, and shame, as you see the devastation and destruction left behind by your actions.”

This is a simple story with a simple message. We must accept the responsibility and the consequences that come with making poor choices. We should learn from our mistakes and recognize when our actions or behavior injure others, ready to be accountable and to make amends for the harm caused to others. Oh, and it may not hurt to heed the warning signs around us. This may be a simple story, but how many of us have ignored obvious warning signs, choosing destructive behavior and actions that have devastated the lives of others, including our own?

            My father made a choice to abandon his family and divorce my mother, leaving in his wake a family that was fractured, displaced, and devastated by the rolling stone that bowled us over. Poppa was truly a rolling stone! To this day, I would not be able to identify my father if he stood right in front of me. His actions and his absence, however, left an impression that our family felt for years after his departure.

            In the same way, Adam made a choice to disobey God, and the effects of his action have been felt for centuries down through the generations until today. Like Adam’s choice, my father’s actions became a curse that affected my mother and his children. Thank God for Jesus Christ! We do not have to languish forever and live our lives under the curse of Adam and the sins of our fathers. God’s purpose for salvation was to destroy the curse of Adam and Eve’s disobedience and to restore our lives from the devastation and destruction caused by the effects of sin that bowl us over like a rolling stone.

            Jesus Christ is God’s divine act of love to redeem man’s fallen nature and to save his soul from death and destruction. This redemption restores man to a right relationship that allows him to enjoy fellowship with God. After Adam committed the sin of eating the fruit from the tree, God began to demonstrate His love, concern, compassion, and justice for man’s fallen state.

              Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:7–11, 21 NIV)

            Do you see how God responded to Adam and Eve? Notice how He came to them in the garden after Adam expressed his fears to God and acknowledged his attempt to try to hide from God because of his nakedness. Do you see that God did not condemn them for what they had done? Did you notice that God did not chastise them for the obvious wrong they had committed? Instead, God responded with mercy, kindness, and grace. God made garments of skin, and He himself clothed them. God initiated an act of redemption by providing them with a covering to cover their nakedness, their shame, and their guilt. God provided Adam and Eve comfort, reassurance of His love, and care for them. He dealt with their immediate need, even though they had committed a sin. Although there were immediate and eternal consequences for their actions (Genesis 3:16–19), God provided an immediate and eternal solution to overcome Satan’s destructive influence and power.

            “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NIV).

            The plan of salvation is God’s promise to redeem the fallen nature of man. God’s purpose in salvation is to restore man to God’s original likeness and image. He does this through the power of His love, His Son, and His Spirit at work in the hearts and minds of everyone who sincerely believes in what Christ accomplished on the cross.

            “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.’ So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26a–27 NIV). Every man in existence is created in the likeness of the Creator of heaven and earth. Every man has a spirit and a soul, which is housed in his physical body.

            “The Lord God formed the man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7 KJV). “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4 NIV).

God is a Spirit, and He has a soul as well. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38a, emphasis added). “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38 NIV, emphasis added).

The soul of God and man is made up of the mind (intellect), the heart (emotions), and the will (ability to choose). Collectively, these make up our human nature. With the freedom she had been given, Eve was influenced by Satan and chose to disobey God. At first, Adam chose to obey God by ignoring the tree, but he was later influenced and chose to disobey God by taking the fruit from Eve. Since Eve came from Adam, and every man has come from them, we are all born with the capacity to choose the opposite of what God desires for us. Sin distorts the image and likeness of God in man. This is what is referred to as the sinful nature. What we call human nature, the ability and freedom to choose, is also condemned and regarded as the sinful nature. When man’s choices are in rebellion against God’s intentions for man, or they contradict His word, God regards these choices as sinful.

“The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5 NIV).

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV).

            “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19–21).

            It was never God’s intention for man to choose the opposite of what He desired for man. Rather, he desires that men choose Him over the influence of evil and Satan. We can only be tempted and influenced by the devil through the desires that are within us, so when we are tempted, God wants us to turn to Him instead of giving in to our temptation. God knew beforehand that man’s fallen nature would make it impossible for us to follow through with the choice to live for Him. This is why He provided Jesus Christ. Even in the beginning, in the garden, God saw our need for His divine help and provided us with an eternal solution for an eternal problem. Since the beginning of time, it has been God’s plan and desire to restore man to His own image and likeness.

By the power of God, Jesus Christ died and rose again so that we may experience God’s love in redemption. Through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Spirit takes residence and lives within us to restore our souls and transform us back into the original image and likeness of our Creator. God’s word is the source of power that provides the knowledge and inspiration that moves us to respond to God and allows Him to work in and through us to accomplish this great work.

Out of the Darkness: A Journey into the Marvelous Light is available now on-line to purchase today! Use the link on my blogroll to Tate Publishing on-line bookstore, or amazon.com! You can purchase an autographed copy by contacting me directly authorcjones@yahoo.com

OutOfTheDarkness

FAITH SAYS, ‘GOD CAN DO IT!’

Posted: February 23, 2013 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

– John 11:22 NIV

It’s one thing to believe that God is able. It’s another thing altogether to believe God is able after time has passed, He has yet to respond and things have gotten worse! This is the predicament Martha and Mary found themselves in and countless others have encountered in their personal faith walk with God that challenges all of us who believe in Jesus Christ to remain faithful, hopeful and prayerful despite the reality of the current condition of our circumstances. Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus that their brother, whom they acknowledged that Jesus loved, was sick and they wanted Him to come and respond to their request (prayer) for help.

How difficult it is to hear, understand and believe that the One who loves me would allow time to pass and permit my circumstances to worsen without responding to my plea for help and assistance. When life opposes faith, it becomes even more difficult to endure and persevere when I have to wrestle with my thoughts and feelings about God’s love and His concern for me. I believe this is exactly what happened to Mary when Jesus arrived on the scene after delaying His response to her request to come and see about her, her sister and their brother. Mary knew Lazarus was someone Jesus loved. Surely, Jesus would respond. I am certain Martha and Mary heard the testimony about the Roman centurion who acknowledged that Jesus did not even need to come to his home, but just speak healing and because of His authority and power, Jesus would make his servant whole and well. Yet, after 3 days, Lazarus died and Jesus never came to see about him in response to Mary and Martha’s request. When Jesus did arrive, 4 days later, Mary didn’t come to meet Jesus as Martha did initially.

When she did go out to meet Jesus, after Jesus called for her, you can hear and feel the disappointment, discouragement, grief and pain in Mary’s words when she spoke to Jesus. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” – John 11:32b NIV The bible describes this scene by adding that Mary fell at Jesus’ feet. I interpret that as Mary being overcome with grief over Lazarus’ death and the great feeling of disappointment that Jesus did not respond when she called for Him to come. The irony of this dialogue between Mary and Jesus is that Martha started her conversation with Jesus the same way, but she added what she believed in spite of the condition of the reality of her current plight! “‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.'” – 11:21-22 NIV Faith challenges us to believe God is able in every and all circumstances to bring life from death and make things better and new!

May God bless you and help you to believe beyond how you feel despite the reality of your current plight so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

WHEN LIFE OPPOSES FAITH

Posted: February 13, 2013 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'”

– John 11:40 NIV

 

How many times have the circumstances of life tried to convince you that you should just give up hope and quit believing in God, trusting Him to work everything together for good? How many times have you been tempted to or questioned whether God really cares, is He concerned, is His word really true, will He answer my prayers? In that same time frame, how often has your soul refused to believe anything other than what God promises in His word irregardless of what the circumstances of life may say? Despite the harsh condemning proclamations of misfortune, grief and injustice, how often did you hear the still, small voice of God whisper to you to keep believing?

In John 11, we encounter such a scenario in a conversation with Martha and Jesus. We are told in the 11th chapter of John that Martha and her sister Mary had sent a messenger (prayer) to Jesus to inform Him that their brother Lazarus was sick. “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.'” – John 11:3 NIV Jesus delayed in responding to their request (when God is silent) and Lazarus died. 4 days later Jesus comes to Martha and Mary. What transpired in Martha’s conversation with Jesus regarding Lazarus’ death reinforces to us the value of remaining hopeful, faithful to trust God, even when life opposes faith. When Martha heard Jesus had arrived, she went to Jesus and a dynamic conversation ensued. How I feel in my circumstances isn’t the issue as much as what I believe despite how I feel. Although Lazarus died and Jesus did not respond to her request for His intervention at the time she needed Him to, Martha still believed Jesus could do something about her circumstances! “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” – John 11:22 NIV Martha refused to believe that the condition of her current circumstances were beyond God’s ability to affect change!

I wonder what Jesus’ thought was when He heard Martha declare what she believed about Him and the power of faith. When life opposes faith, the believer in Christ is challenged to declare what they believe despite how they may feel because of the condition of their current circumstances. No matter how many times I read this passage in the 11th chapter of John it inspires me and resonates within me, because it speaks to the heart of how I should be as a follower of Christ in the face of life’s opposition. Even now, God is looking to see who is willing to acknowledge Him as the One who can affect change, even when it appears your situation is beyond working out! God raises the dead, makes all things new and calls those things that are not as they ought to be!

May God bless you and help you to grow in faith to stand firm against life’s opposition so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

BELIEVE ANYHOW

Posted: January 30, 2013 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”

– Job 42:2 NIV

Since the beginning of 2013 I have encountered this verse in a variety ways. Whether it was through the process of my private devotion time, through the devotional Our Daily Bread, or through a sermon, Job 42:2 has been a consistent source of encouragement and inspiration as 2012 transitioned into 2013. When I initially read it, what resonated within me was the reminder that what God has proclaimed in His word and whispered to me in my heart about what His plans are for me will not be deterred from becoming a reality!

When I take a moment to consider the source from which this passage was declared, I am reminded that Job was staring misfortune, injustice and grief in the face having lost all he possessed and was currently riddled with sores from head to toe. Somehow, despite the reality of his circumstances demanding of him to give up hope and give up on believing in God for something better; somewhere within him, deep within his soul, Job had the audacity to express his belief in God to do something on his behalf!

God has a plan of restoration, healing, renewal and deliverance for those who still hold out believing in His promise to do what He proclaims in His word. God’s plans are to make things new, better, whole and well! Despite what the reality of my circumstances may say, what the current condition of the challenges I face may declare, I must believe anyhow! Faith begins when things look bleak, when times are difficult and I am in the deepest darkness of my midnight hour! I was also reminded in the time I reflected on this verse from the book of Job that Job had no idea God had determined to give him double for all that he had endured and persevered through! God wants to reward those who are willing to remain confident in Him and continue to do His will!

May God bless you and help you to continue to do His will and remain confident He will keep His promise so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

EMBRACE GOD’S PROMISES

Posted: December 28, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'”

– Genesis 12:1-3 NIV

At the beginning of the 2012 calendar year, I listened to a sermon preached on TBN with the title Excel in 2012. It resonated with me and I encouraged my sister and mother to embrace it as the new theme for our ongoing bible study (5 years running). Our theme became Excel in 2012 and Beyond! As the 2012 year comes to a close, I rejoice in knowing God has exceeded our expectations and extended us beyond ourselves to experience change in real, relevant ways that confirm for us God’s person, presence and power at work in us and through us for His glory! Though it was not always easy, the journey has been well worth the encounter!

Before Abram could experience the fulfillment of the promise God spoke to him in Genesis 12, Abram had to embrace and accept the commandment for change God required. Abram had to be willing to leave a place of familiarity and comfort in order to experience the fullness of blessing God had in store for him. Faith requires change and a transition from something old into something new. Change requires a transition, or paradigm shift, from the way things were to the way things God intends in order to encounter fulfillment, success and prosperity.

God wants to make us new and experience a new life that includes an intimate personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Careful inspection of the promise God speaks to Abram reveals that what God intends to do for us is not intended to be solely beneficial exclusively to the recipient of the promise, but also to everyone who comes into contact with the recipient. The world becomes a better place for the one who embraces and accepts what God requires in association with the promise of being a follower of Christ.

May God bless you and help you to embrace and accept His promises so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

THE POWER FOR CHANGE

Posted: December 15, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”

– 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NIV

The power for change begins when I am willing to embrace enacting the principles required in association with the promise. For Abraham, it began by being willing to follow God’s word by leaving his family and place of comfort for a better place God had planned for him, but Abraham did not know where he was going. In the same way, change in our circumstances begins when we are willing to operate within the divine plan of God to do what He requires in order to experience the fulfillment of His promises.

God promised Solomon that His eyes and ears would be open and attentive to the prayers offered by His people and His heart would always be with them in the book of 2 Chronicles, but God proclaimed a requirement by which His people’s prayers would be answered. God promises to always listen, but if our desire is for Him to respond to our prayers, to experience the power for change in our circumstances, we must apply the principles associated with the promise.

Healing, restoration, revival, and change begins with emulating the posture of a sincere seeker. The posture of a sincere seeker is fueled by their faith in the One who promises power for change for the one who comes believing He can and will act on their behalf. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah and Lott’s life was spared. God may not act in the way or time we desire, but it does not mean that God is not listening and will not act. Through faith in Christ, we are God’s temple, and God promised that the temple He chose and consecrated for His name to be there forever, His eyes and heart will always be there too! (see 2 Chronicles 7:16) Continue to believe and pray to experience God’s power for change!

May God help you and bless you to continue to believe and pray to experience His promises and encounter His power for change and the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

GRACE: SUPERNATURAL POWER TO EXCEED MY LIMITATIONS

Posted: October 17, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

– Ephesians 3:20 NIV

At some point during our faith walk we begin to see clearly, left to ourselves to manage all of our duties, roles and responsibilities, we would fail miserably to maintain a level of consistency in being productive, progressive and prosperous. Somewhere along the line, including in our faith relationship with God, we would begin to pull back and lighten our burden by prioritizing one thing over another, leaving something undone or less of a priority on our daily ‘to do list.’

God invites the believer to trust in the wonder of His love and the display of His splendor to equip, enable and empower them and allow Him to work in and through them to achieve what they could not on their own, or in their own strength. The New Testament book of Hebrews explains it like this, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 NIV It is at the throne of grace, through prayer, the believer positions him or her self to encounter the supernatural, immeasurably more God proclaims and promises for those who sincerely seek Him with persistence and confidence.

Prayer invites God to fulfill what He proclaims and promises in His word as He invites us to delight and meditate on it as the blessed man in Psalm 1 did. Prayer is the believer’s posture and disposition that expresses to God, ‘I believe that what you proclaim and promise is meant for me, but I will need you, LORD, in order for me to experience what is written in your word.’ This is what I believe Jesus meant when He declared to His disciples in John 15:5, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing.’ Meaning that what God promises and proclaims in His word cannot be achieved apart from faith and Jesus Christ.

May God bless you and help you to approach Him in prayer, with persistence and confidence, to experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

 

POWER & AUTHORITY

Posted: October 13, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

The King James Version of the Bible says that the word of God is quick and powerful. The blessed man in Psalm 1 encountered a life that was prosperous and productive because he delighted in God’s word and meditated on it day and night. He was like a tree planted by the streams of water which yielded its fruit in season and his leaves never withered and whatever he did, he prospered at it.

The word of God is able to bring us from a place of lack and barrenness to a place of abundance and prosperity. The word of God can rescue us from a place of anxiety and distress and restore us to a place of peace, preserving our well-being, even in the midst of duress. The word of God can provide healing, deliverance, restoration, renewal and bring forth life from death. The word of God is His expressed plan, purpose and promise to the believer of what they should expect from Him, according to His word, in order to experience fulfillment in a faith relationship with Him as we walk by faith.

The word of God is an invitation for the reader to encounter an interactive relationship with its Author and experience the authority and power it provides as the reader engages the Author in allowing Him to work in and through them to bring about what is written in His word. The blessed man in Psalm 1 can attribute his prosperity and production to the action and disposition (attitude) of delighting in God’s law and meditating on it. The Apostle Paul (see Inspired to Share His Grace) declared that it was God’s energy (His word and His Spirit) that worked wonderfully within him as he labored to share God’s grace and truth with others. There is an encounter God desires us to have we can only experience with Him through His word.

May God bless you and help you to live by the authority and power of His word, as you spend time with Him in His word, so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

INSPIRED TO SHARE HIS GRACE

Posted: October 12, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

– Colossians 1:29 NIV

Have you ever been so overwhelmed with how good God has been to you that you could not keep it to yourself, or so inspired by His truth that you were moved to share it with as many as possible as often as possible? This is what I think about when I reflect upon what is written by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:29. Within these 16 words I sense the passion, exhilaration and enthusiasm that comes from being enamored with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ and the motivation to share it with as many as possible so that others may be ignited as Paul is with God and His word.

The previous verse reads like this: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” – Colossians 1:28 NIV Paul reveals his passion and sense of mission in proclaiming the grace and truth of Jesus Christ to others and describes it as an energy that produces power within him to follow through in fulfilling what he is moved to do by the same grace and truth he seeks to share with others.

The prophet Jeremiah described it as a fire shut up in his bones that compelled him to proclaim what stirred within him, even if he resolved not to speak. The New Testament book of Hebrews declares that the word of God as living and active and is capable of working deep within the individual (joint and marrow to soul and spirit). This indicates that the word of God is able to address both our physical, and spiritual/psychological, and deep internal mental/emotional concerns. So when the Apostle Paul expresses with passion the struggle with all of God’s energy that works wonderfully within him, I see him declaring how he senses and feels the word of God ministering to his physical and spiritual needs as he sincerely seeks to share his grace and truth with others.

May God bless you and help you to experience the energy of His grace and truth working within you, that inspires you to share His grace and truth with others, as you experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

WHAT IS A HOSTILE MIND TOWARD GOD?

Posted: September 23, 2012 in Art, Books, Christianity, Education, Encouragement, Faith, Family, History, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Photography, Politics, Quotes, Success, Travel, Uncategorized
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“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.”

– Ephesians 4:19 NIV

The hostile mind is the mind that is not renewed in faith and opposes the attitude of Christ that prohibits the believer from displaying the likeness and image of God in their daily living. It is a mind that operates in resignation, reservation, resistance, doubt, unbelief and fear. The hostile mind is cynical in thinking and refutes the word of God as the authoritative doctrine of the Christian lifestyle. The hostile mind cannot embrace, accept, or validate the word of God as truth. The hostile mind is not sensitive to the Spirit of God when He speaks.

During the years of our pre-Christ conversion, we can clearly see how we could and have operated with a hostile mind towards God. Keep in mind, the Apostle Paul was writing this message within this passage of scripture in Ephesians 4 to those who considered themselves to be sincere followers of Jesus Christ. Paul is warning those who read and reflect upon this passage about the real reality that we are one thought away from turning back to a way of thinking that could prohibit us from living the victorious spiritual life God ordained us to walk in through faith in Jesus Christ. Even during the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, there were those who find it difficult to accept what Jesus taught and no longer followed Him, according to John 6:60-70.

The reality of misfortune, grief, loss and the ongoing circumstances of disappointment and the discouraging moments of life is enough to distract us, deter us, and dissuade us from remaining loyal and devoted to anything, including God. It takes a deliberate, determined, disciplined resolve and strong  internal display of fortitude in order to remain sensitive to God when the harsh, cold reality of this world begins to harden our hearts towards the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” – Luke 7:23 NIV

May God bless you and help you to remain steadfast, immovable and unshaken in your faith walk with Him so you may experience the fullness of life Christ came for us to have.

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