Do you have to be #1?

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 9:35 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Last? Nobody, I mean NOBODY likes to be last. We have a hard enough time settling for second place, much less last place. But, Jesus reverses the rank or order when He talks with His disciples here. He confounds the world with His foolish ways! The person who is most important to Him is not the person seeking the status and the notoriety of being number 1! The most important person is the one most like Jesus Himself: willing to give up rank and status and importance to serve his brethren. For Jesus, last means being first in service, first to lay your self down for some else’s benefit, and first in the eyes of God because you have given yourself to Him first in the service of others. I did not want to, nor did I myself choose to be a Pastor – Jesus decided that I should be a Pastor, He told me that I was to be a Pastor for Him and I chose to accept. Ministry means service, service means WORK, ministry means serving others first before self just as Jesus did! Do you want to be first, to be recognized and have status before others? Then you first need to be a servant to all! But serve “As unto the Lord” not unto man or because you have to. Remember it’s a choice, you get to, you don’t have to! You always have a choice. And always remember that it is really the Lord you are serving not some man or woman. Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

MY PRAYER…
Magnificent Father, creator of all that was, is, and ever will be, You have made this wonderful world for me and have given Your Son to redeem me. How can I ever thank You or repay You for Your Grace, Your Mercy, and Your Kindness. Today help me see those You want me to serve for You. Lord extend Your grace and kindness toward me as I try to be more like You. I can not do it on my own, this I know, but through Jesus all things are possible. Lord I give You my body, a living sacrifice. Change me, purge me, rearrange me Lord, into a vessel worthy to serve You. A vessel that will bring glory and honor to Your name and Your Kingdom. In the name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus.

Amen

What is your job or calling in your Christian Life?

[Zechariah prophesied concerning John,] “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.”
Luke 1:76-78 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
John’s job, his calling in life, was to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus to come to us and bring Salvation and forgiveness. His job was not to be the number one or the one in the limelight. Rather he was a preparer, a servant if you will. But, where does salvation come from? Does it come because we realize that something is desperately wrong and that we need to change it and make it better? Does it come from our doing good works and being a good person? Does it come because we got lucky one day? Does it come because we have done nothing wrong and are worthy and deserve it? Does it come because we have kept all the commandments (No man/women can do that!)? No, NO man (or woman) deserves forgiveness or salvation, we all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God, we were ALL born with a sin nature because of Adam. Does it come from membership in a particular church or religion? Absolutely NOT! Does it come from rigorously obeying everything in the law (from being religious)? NO! again I say NO! Salvation and forgiveness come only from one source,
A church or your religion can NOT save you EVER. There is only one source for Salvation, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” There is NO OTHER WAY! Period. Therefore John’s job, his calling in life, to prepare the way for the Lord was the most important job one could ever have. Every single Christian has that same job! We have all been made able ministers of the New Testament (Gospel of Jesus Christ) according to God’s Word. (2 Cor. 3:6) And there is NO other way to God except through Jesus Christ, I don’t care what you think or believe. The Word of God says one way, therefore there is only one way!

MY PRAYER…
I confess, Father, that at times I’ve tried to earn my salvation. At other times, I have taken it for granted and trampled on Your mercy and grace. Today, Father, I want to live for You: not to be saved or gain salvation, but to please You and reflect Your character and nature. Your mercy and grace have redeemed many people from the worthless way of living that I see so many others still trapped in. Thank You for Your salvation, for everything that is included with that salvation, but please help me to live in a way that shows the joy of that salvation in all I say, think, and do. Through the name of Jesus I pray.

Amen

Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?

[Jesus said,] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:43-45 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
No this verse is NOT a cruel joke, it is VERY true. Remember God is Love (Unconditional Love). We often talk about the privileges of being a child of God – forgiveness, salvation, a future in heaven with Him, the gift of the Holy Spirit, prosperity, healing, and health, and ultimate victory through Christ. One of the greatest privileges we get as children of God however, is the opportunity to act toward those who dislike and hate us in a way that reflects the character of God himself. Anyone can return hate for hate, but it takes a child of God to return a blessing and a prayer to their enemies. The last bit of that verse also indicates, to me anyway, that this action of loving, blessing, and praying for those who hate and despitefully use us is a necessary action, a condition if you will, to becoming a son or daughter of God. “Faith without works is dead!” Works = corresponding actions, actions involved in doing the Word of God in Faith. Because in doing the Word of God you work out your salvation through His grace.

MY PRAYER…
Father, thank You for loving me while I was still an enemy to You. Thank You for offering the death of Your Son Jesus to offer me the chance to accept or reject Your love. As You have promised, You are pouring Your love into my heart so I may love even my enemies as You have loved me. Thank You Father that there are no “undesireables” when it comes t your love for mankind. Father, it is not by my might or by my power that I am able to love and pray for my enemies, but by the power of Your holy Spirit that works within me. Continue Lord to fill me afresh each and every day. Through Jesus, the gift of Your love, I pray.
Amen

Out of the tiniest of seeds huge trees grow!

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:7-8 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
This principle is so important that I have to preach on it again this week.
Out of the tiniest of seeds huge trees grow! A very small acorn can produce a giant majestic oak tree over time. Whatever we sow is what we will reap. As Creflo Dollar would say “You don’t plant corn seed if you want collard greens!” This principle runs true throughout all of life. It is a principal ordained by God and it controls nature. When we sow to the flesh (or the carnal, lustful sin nature of man) by yielding to such things as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, greed, anger, adultery, pornography and other such lusts of the flesh, we will only reap the destruction that will come from it. (“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23) (or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23) Take a good look at modern society today and you will see what I mean. Men with men and women with women, and trying to tell the world it’s okay. It is NOT okay, it is an abomination to God! It is not what God intended for us to do. Even the animals don’t live like that, they have more sense than humanity in that respect! Why else would He have made male and female? Adults sexually abusing children, pornography all over the internet and even cable TV. Liars, cheaters, and illegal aliens as politicians, even as a president. The list just goes on and on. We can not get completely away from the seeds we have already sown, but we can control what seeds we will sow in the future. We can control our future harvest. It is possible to uproot the seeds before they sprout, if you will turn to God and His Word. So let’s not fool ourselves by trying to do a “snow job” on God. He knows what you are sowing, just like you know what you are sowing. If you’re sitting in front of the ‘boob tube’ all evening instead of meditating the Word guess what your harvest is going to be? Ever wonder why they call the television the ‘boob tube’? Seek first the Kingdom of God. Sow to the spirit and spiritual things instead of to the flesh, and you will reap eternal life. Yes, those things of the flesh seem pleasant and fun to do, BUT it is only for a little while and then there is a price to pay. If it’s not of faith in the things of God, it’s sin. Sin, when mature produces death. Let’s make sure the seeds we sow are the ones we want sprouting up later! Remember God SEES and HEARS all that you do and say and He even knows what is in your heart!

MY PRAYER…
Heavenly Father, God who lived before creation and who will be the Great “I AM” when time is no more, help me to sow seeds in my life that will bear eternal fruit. Let Your Spirit guide and teach me to sow to the spirit and to avoid those seeds that are carnal and lead to destruction. I know that I can not accomplish this on my own, I know that I need You and Your Spirit to help and guide me every step of the way. So Father, I ask You to fill me afresh each day with Your precious Holy Spirit that I may be endued with power from on High to accomplish that which I can not of my self do. Through Jesus, who died and was buried and rose on high so that I might have life and it might forever flow forth from me by the power of the Holy Spirit within me. My Lord and my Saviour, in Jesus name I pray.
Amen

Do you always walk in love?

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:6-7 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Always love? Pretty tall order and pretty tough stuff. Only God is “always.” But as Christians we can be fueled by HIS Love to always be walking in love through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit! God is Love (Agape) and if His Holy Spirit is living in us then we are (or should be) His love personified. And remember, our Faith works by love. His Love working in and through us. Check out the promised source of always love in Romans 5:5.

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father on High, I humble myself before You, recognizing Your boundless power to love, the incredible need for love in the lives of those around me, and my limited ability to love them. Please continue to pour Your Holy Spirit into my heart and Your anointing oil upon my head and in so doing empower me by Your Holy Spirit with Your love toward people. Through the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, fill me with the power to love as You do, unconditionally always. In Jesus’ sweet and precious name I pray.
Amen

How do you tell a Christian from the world?

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you , so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-35 New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
How do you recognize followers (His disciples) of Jesus? How do you know who are true Christians? Jesus said they love each other and the World just as He loved His disciples. There are no “Undesireables” as far as Jesus is concerned, He has only love (Unconditional God-kind of Love) in His heart for ALL. He hates SIN, but loves people. Unconditional Love, that’s how Jesus loves and that is how we are to love also. This meant He was willing to give sacrificially and selflessly by dying for them on the cross, and He was also willing to love selflessly and practically by becoming their servant to the extent of even washing their feet. Imagine if we all read the Gospels, and committed to love each other in the same way Jesus showed His love to His disciples! Unconditional love for one another! Are you a disciple (a follower of the teaching) of Jesus? Then there should be no “Undesireables” in your life either. You should love everyone with the ‘Agape’ love of God. This is not the physical love that most people think of, it is a spiritual love. Glory to God He loves me just the same as He loved His original twelve disciples!

MY PRAYER…
Father of Compassion, and God of all grace, I thank You for teaching me to love through the example of Jesus, for removing the thought of “Undesireables” from my life. May my words and actions begin to reflect the same resemblance of His love toward Your people today. May the Holy Spirit, through His working within me begin to produce that Christ like unconditional love within me that Jesus had for the multitudes. Through Christ, my Great Example, I pray.
Amen

Have you accepted God’s commanded commission?

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.
Matthew 28:19-20 King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Are you born again, are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? Not just confirmed in some church on a roster, but truly born again of the Spirit of God. Just going to church does not make you a Christian or born again, just like standing in the garage does NOT make you a car! If you are born again and you know it, then this is the commission we were given by Jesus before He went to sit at the right hand of the Father. This was not just a command to the preachers and pastors in the church. He spoke this to His disciples before He was taken up, but that doesn’t mean that He limited it to only those standing there with Him. No, it was spoken to ALL His disciples both present with Him and future ones. It is a call to discipleship to each and every believer from that day forward until He comes back again for His church. How else is the work of making disciples supposed to get done if we don’t go and do it? There is a further call to some others that are to raise us up to do the work of the ministry. Those are called specifically to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. But ALL believers are called to do the work of the ministry as outlined above. We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation, reconciling the world of sinners unto Jesus.

MY PRAYER…
Father, I thank You for calling me to do the work of reconciliation, to be a pastor of your sheep. To go forth and teach the Gospel to all nations and kindred. Father, I thank You that You are the one who equips us with all that is necessary to do this work. You have given us Your Word, and You have given us Your Holy Spirit, who is our Guide, our Comforter, and our Teacher. And You have put in place Your 5-fold ministers Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers to equip us, the saints for the work of the ministry. Father, thank You for having faith in me, before I even knew You, for placing a call on my life to do Your will and Your work here in the earth until the return of Your Son and my Lord for His church. In Jesus’ holy name I pray and thank You Lord.
Amen

God’s plan – Sowing and reaping!

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Galatians 6:7

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
There are many out there that don’t understand this principle from God. “You will reap what you sow!”
Those of you practicing immorality know this, You will reap from what you sow. If you are homosexual you will reap of the diseases that affect those who do so. Don’t think that LGBT is okay, it is NOT okay in God’s eyes and you will reap the consequences.
Just because you feel like you’re under pressure these days, you’re not alone. Satan is putting more pressure on more people right now than ever before. He’s pressuring us mentally, physically, financially, emotionally and every other way he can. The pressure has gotten so great everywhere that governments don’t know what to do. Businesses don’t know what to do. Families don’t know what to do. Some Churches and pastors don’t even know what to do.

But praise God, Jesus does! He says we can give our way right out from under any pressure the devil brings to bear.
Giving is always Jesus’ way out. Whenever there’s a need, He plants seed! In fact, in Mark Chapter 4, He compares the entire kingdom of God to a seed. Just think about the importance of seeds for a moment. Every living thing on this earth came from a seed. You came from a seed. Then you were born again from the seed of God’s Word. Jesus Himself was The Seed planted by God. God sowed Him in sacrifice. He came forth and grew up into many brethren.

So, when Satan puts you under pressure, go to Jesus and let Him tell you how and where to plant your seed. If you’ll do it, that seed will grow up until it breaks the powers of darkness and lack. It will release you from the pressure the devil’s been putting on you. I’ve seen it happen.

If the devil’s pressuring you, don’t panic…plant! Do you want to reap blessings? Plant (sow) your money where God tells you to. Plant (sow) your time. Plant (sow) your tithes. Plant (sow) the clothes off your back.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38 NKJV
When your harvest comes in, you can laugh and say, “Hey, Devil, who’s feeling the pressure now?”

MY PRAYER…
Most High God of the Mountains, the seas, the plains, and the skies, You are my source for all of my needs It is your law of sowing and reaping that makes things happen. I acknowledge Your presence in all I do and everywhere I go. Please, continue to lead and guide me by Your Holy Spirit. Help to know when and where to sow and to what to sow that I may receive the harvest that You have for my life. Continue to remind me that You are always present in everything I do or say. Father, help us to understand Your ways. In the name of Your Holy Child, Jesus, I pray.
Amen

Are you performing daily routine spiritual maintenance?

“The cares and anxieties of the world, and distractions of the age, the pleasure, delight, false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.”
Mark 4:19 The Amplified Bible

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
Are you aware that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you are not careful and allow it? I heard a story once that the Lord told a woman during prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men (& women too). “You have so many things to maintain,” He told her. “You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your boat, your machines, your hair… and the list goes on and on.”

This nation, especially Christians, have become maintainers of so many natural things that we don’t have any time left to maintain our own spirit or our spiritual walk with Jesus! Our daily walk with the Lord! As Christians we must protect that precious time with Him and if anything add to it, not take away from it. We should be tithing (at a minimum) of our time to the Lord also. A tenth of 24 hours is 2.4 hours, that’s the least we should be giving Him each day! But He says tithes AND offerings. An offering is above and beyond your tithe!

If you have found yourself in the situation described above, too many things to maintain and no time for God. Then it’s time to simplify your life. I’ve had to learn that myself. Now when I’m considering something that I think I need, I don’t just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it. Where will the time come from that I need to maintain and use it? Am I going to have to take from my time with the Lord to maintain this new thing. Is it really something I need, or do I just want it? You can’t expect the heathen world to think like this, but we as Christians should be doing so every day.

Second Timothy 2:4 says, “Don’t get entangled in the affairs of this life. It so easy to do because the things of this world, the natural things, are so much more real to our senses than the things of the spiritual world. But we must remember we are a spirit and we must train ourselves to be sensitive to the spiritual world as well. One thing I’ve learned since becoming a Christian: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer, meditation of the word, and just being with the Father, Jesus , and the Holy Spirit. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that. Because this life, as I know it, will pass away one day and all that is in it. All my earthly toys and high maintenance items will pass away, they will not come with me. What will then be most important – should right now be most important! Where will I spend eternity?

MY PRAYER…
Precious Father, thank You for calling me into Your marvelous Kingdom and for translating me out of darkness. Increase in me the knowledge of You, Oh Lord, that I may know the full calling you have placed upon my life. Take me Lord and do with me what You will, I have chosen to give myself unto You, I have made the choice. I have chosen the way You told us to choose. I have chosen life! (Deut 30:19) Father take this earthen vessel and mold and shape me, put me in Your fire and burn up that which is not of You, Oh Lord. Lord help me to learn to maintain my walk with You first of all. You said if we would seek first the kingdom of God, and Your righteousness; that all these other things would be added unto us. Father help me to make You first always. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

Are you an ‘alien’ in this world?

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Philippians 3:20 New King James Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY’S VERSE…
No matter what your passport or birth certificate says, IF you are a Christian, (a born again, Bible toting, Bible believing, Faith believing, Christ inside, Christ-like, loving person) there is no earthly country that can hold you, no borders that can claim you and no flag that flies above you, except Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. You have more in common with a Christian believing aboriginal tribesman from Australia, a Christian refugee in Sudan Africa, the Bedouin brother (Christian) in Kuwait, or the Holy Spirit-filled Brazilian housewife, than you do with your next door neighbor if that neighbor doesn’t know Christ as Lord and Savior. We are but aliens in a foreign land. We are in this world, but we are not of it. My retirement program through Jesus is out of this world! Where are you from? Better yet, where are you headed?

MY PRAYER…
Glorious God and Almighty Father, I look forward to the day when people from every language, tribe, and nation, join with the angels and the 24 elders around Your throne and worship You in joyous praise. I am anxious to see the mansion you have for me in Your House. Father, help us to become one with our brothers and sisters around the world, that we might worship You as Your church, not many different churches. Lord, help us to reach our neighbors and share You with them. Lord, prepare us, prepare our hearts, for that glorious day when You come to take us home to be with You forever! Lord, we give You ALL praise and ALL glory forever.
Amen