Secret Christians

Matthew 10:32-33

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

There are many of us that struggle with professing our relationship status. This predominately happens with younger believers. But that’s not to say that we all can’t relate to this regardless of age. With so much pressure to fit into a culture that preaches be yourself, be different. It’s funny that they all look the same. If I were to wear a turban around my head and soccer shoes everywhere I went. You would say I’m crazy. But if some famous rapper does it watch how many followers would go out head wrapped with cleats. Why? Because they want everyone to know that they keep up with the times. They want others to know that they know about the latest trends and gossip. They don’t want be left out. Funny that because they wear a different color turban they say “I’m not a follower, I’m a trend setter” (Side note).

What if we were that passionate about Christ? What if whatever He did we would imitate. Ephesians 5: Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].  Instead because Jesus is not the rap star you see on TV or the basketball player that’s in the NBA we want to be accepted by the world so we deny our relationship with Him. Mainly because we feel others might not understand. And so the only time we are Christians is when we are in church or around other believers. This shouldn't be so. Even the world would say that’s being fake wit it.

Grab and go: If you truly Love someone you don’t care who knows or how they feel about it. My wife and I got married not long after dating one another. Despite how others felt, we were willing to get married regardless of what other people had to say about it because we love one another. Don’t think I’m saying despise wisdom and Godly counsel. I just wanted to make the point that when it’s real love your willing to forsake all others. Now ask yourself is that how you feel about God? Are you willing to forsake all others?

 

Become as little children! (Matthew 18:3)

Yesterday we talked about not given place to the devil. In doing so we learn how to have restraint. How to abstain from things that cause us to fall (sin). If you know that drinking milk upsets your stomach. The best way to prevent it would be not to buy it or bring it in the home. Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 But what if you have someone in your house that can drink milk and it doesn't bother them? Then we should have enough restraint to not drink the milk. Just because it’s there doesn't mean we have to drink it.

My son had a testimony that he shared with me on the way to school this morning. I asked could I share it today on our daily email and he said yes. So with that, my son has been self-conscious about his weight for a little while now. We try to encourage him often. We do this so that he doesn't allow a misperception of how some other boys his age look define how he feels he should look(weight wise). I notice that he hadn't asked for snack money in quite a while. I would ask him from time to time if he needed anything and he would say no. I didn't think too much about it. This morning, I saw him in the change dish I asked him did he get what he needed. He said yes. I asked did he need any more money. He said no. So I said to him, “do you understand that if you need something or even wanted any extra money that I was in a position to be able to do that for you” he said yes sir, I don’t want any snack money. So I flat out asked him why? He said when he use to have money all the time that he would always go to the snack line to get a snack. He said sometimes he didn't even want a snack but he would get one because he had the money to. So he decided since he was trying to watch the things that he ate that if he didn't have any snack money then he wouldn't be tempted to eat a snack. I told him that he inspires me and that I could learn a lot from him. My 12 year old is truly a man of God.

Grab and go: Some things are really hard for us to let go of. But if we stop making provisions to keep them in our lives we would be a lot better off.

Just put the seat down!!

Ephesians 4:26-27

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

            Have you ever been mad with someone only for them to ignore you? It sometimes frustrates you even more. You want the other person to know just how much their actions have affected you which caused you to be angry. It’s like inviting strife.

Sometime I leave the seat up. My wife can't stand it. She constantly reminds me or nags me lol about putting the seat down. I don't always intentionally do it, but it upsets her just the same. While she is giving me the spill on why I should put the seat down I may or may not pay much attention. When she sees that I’m not really bothered by her being upset she may feel slighted and sometimes she will begin to mumble under her breath. This she knows I can't stand because I know she's just talking about me. Now because I feel slighted something so small could turn into us not speaking to each other.

I shared this small testimony as an example of how we sometimes give place to the devil. What that means is we give him anopportunity to allow strife and conflict into our lives. We inadvertently give him access into our homes and he disrupts the peace that we have.

Don't allow the enemy or opposition to transfer onto you. Don't give sin a ledge to stand on. Don't open the door to strife. Sin looks for opportunities to enter in and cause disruption of peace. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Grab and go: Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. At the sake of keeping peace in our homes and our lives. We may have to just lose sometimes so that we may win.

Adulterous and sinful generation!

We live in a generation where promiscuity is very prominent. The majority of television shows that come on, promote being promiscuous in some way. Even in the music, you hear so much about how some singer is the best lover and how he/she can make you leave your man/woman, or how he/she can love you better than the next person. This has been going on for years now. No wonder we today think nothing of commitment or monogamy.

            This kind of subliminal advertising of sin has been pumped into our minds for so long that we act upon it without any regard. Which is ultimately what satan wants for us to do, to sin with any regard of it being wrong. We have to be reprogrammed to 1^st understand the truth and secondly recognize the lies.

Mark 8:38

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Living for God has become something that we tend to not promote for the sake of how it would make us look in the eyes of others. As though their perception of us somehow defines us. But as we look at the scripture the Word calls the promiscuity lifestyle (adulterous generation) out. It says that if we were to be ashamed of Him and of His words, that He would be ashamed of us.

Don’t miss what God has for you because you want to be a people pleaser or think that it’s ok to cheat a little bit as long as no one gets hurt. That’s a lie. Living for God promotes commitment and monogamy, which is completely contrary of what the world promotes which is promiscuity and fornication.  Live in a monogamous relationship with Christ, where there is just you and Him; don’t cheat on Him with things of this world.

Grab and go: The objective this morning is to expose satan plans to make the people of God deviate from faith. My prayer this morning is that God opens the eyes to whomever that reads or hears this message so that they may see the scheme’s and plots that’s been purposed against them.

Quenching the Holy Spirit

Once my oldest son said to me with tears in his eyes “Dad don’t let your fire go out”. I reflect on what he said to me often. The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. Quench as in to extinguish or put out.

            There are many of us with a passion/craving to do the things of God. Like a fire that burns on the inside of us. But just like any camp fire, if you don’t add wood to the fire it will eventually get smaller and smaller until it dies out. Then all you’re left with is smoke and remnants of what use to be a fire.

            Today is a small verse that comes with a huge impact because it requires some effort on your part to keep that fire burning brightly. If your passion is to sing for God but you very rarely do it, don’t hold back (quench) the gift God has given you. That’s why He gave it to you, for His glory.  If your passion is praise God and lead others in worship, don’t put out your fire by allowing someone else to substitute in the position you’re supposed to be in.

Grab and go: Treat your passion for God like someone trapped in a snowstorm and the only chance of survival is to keep your fire burning. If you put yourself in that situation you would do whatever it takes to put wood on that fire to keep it burning. Otherwise you know you would freeze to death. Don’t freeze to death in this cold, cold world. Put that wood on the fire, and don't let it go out.

Speak Lord

1 Samuel 3:4-10

⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel. “Here I am,” Samuel responded.⁵ He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

“I didn't call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back and lay down.

⁶ The Lord called Samuel again. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

“I didn't call you, son,” he responded. “Go back to bed.”⁷ Samuel had no experience with the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

⁸ The Lord called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am. You called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ “Go, lie down,” Eli told Samuel. “When he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I’m listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his room.

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there. He called as he had called the other times: “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak. I’m listening.”

This is for that person that God has been calling. Unsure of the voice that you here, you seek counsel from others. Without any clarity you continue to hear the voice calling out to you. This is for the person that’s full of passion and no purpose. The voice you hear is God calling you for your purpose. Spend time in prayer, and when you hear His voice call to you, respond “speak Lord for I am listening”.

Grab and go: We often hear God call to us, but because we have spent more time in fellowship with the world than with God our minds tend to distort what it is that we hear. When you start to spend more time with God, when you hear His voice there is a peace and confidence that surrounds you. Which gives you conformation that what you hear is from God. I encourage you to hear what it is that the Lord is saying to you, and to not only hear but listen.

Don't give up!!!

Do you ever just get tired? Tired of arguing, tired of fighting. Tired of going through the same ol thing again and again. I believe we all go through these moments where we all get physically and spiritually drained. Which causes us to have an overwhelming sense of weariness.

            But in that instance where we feel beaten and defeated that’s an indication that our breakthrough our increase in our portion of faith is nigh unto us. Understand that as we walk/run this race that is before us. The enemy is constantly throwing things in our paths to trip us up. As we continue to overcome those obstacles we get closer to our goal and rewards that God has promised us. As a result the enemy becomes frantic and lashes out in form of a flood. Being that it attacks in overwhelming sense. It feels like every area of your life is being attack. This causes distractions which sole purpose is to break your connection with God or make you lose sight of the promise (goal).

            Be encouraged today. When the enemy comes in like a flood God will make a standard Isaiah 59:19. Count it all on joy when we fall into divers of temptation James 1:2.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Grab and go: Consider what Jesus endured for our sakes, consider the reward. Nothing that you’re going through is worth you taking your life. Nothing that you’re going through is worth giving up your reward, your inheritance. Continue to fight, and in those moments when you get tired of running then simply walk. But just make sure you stay in the race, God is worth it.

Seek and ye shall find!!

Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Luke 7:2-3 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

Is there anybody waiting on God? Take the two above stories and understand that they both had been in a waiting period. The centurion guard’s servant had developed a disease (Palsy, which is a medical term which refers to various types of paralysis often accompanied by loss of feeling and uncontrolled body movements such as shaking) that was claiming his life. The woman with the issue of blood dealt with her issue for 12 years. The woman had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.

What I want to point out is this, but Jesus. When she heard of Jesus (vs 27) she pressed towards the mark (Philippians 3:14) and touched His garment. From there she was made whole. The centurion guard heard of Jesus and sought out to ask Him to heal his servant. His faith assured him that Jesus didn't even had to touch him just speak a Word and it would be done.  The woman felt Jesus didn't even had to speak but just touch something that He’d touched (clothing) and she would be healed. All power belongs to Him

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Grab and go: If you have been going through your waiting period dealing with your issue. Don’t miss your opportunity, you might be at that stage where you need to seek out and ask. Or press through what everybody else says ,reach out and just grab hold to God and be made whole. Jeremiah 29:13

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jesus said so...

We have authority, because Jesus has given it to us. Luke 10:19

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Matthew 10:1

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

My son youngest son is four years old. All of his brothers are significantly older than he is and it’s interesting to see how they interact with one another. When the baby boy wants to play a video game he has to ask one of his brothers to set him up on the game system. Usually they won’t have a problem doing it. But then there are those times where they don’t feel like it. In those instances Chris, my four year old will come to me and essentially, tell on them. Now depending on the circumstance, I don’t want him to think that he is going to be able to have his way all the time, but I do want him to know he can trust daddy to work it out.

So I will tell him go back and tell your brothers “I said let you play”. That’s just what he does. “DADDY Said, let me play”. With no other issues, because they recognize the authority he speaks on is of dad, they set him up on the game. Acts 19:11-17

I want for us to see we move on the authority of God in the same manner. Because Daddy our Father said so.

Grab and go: Read Matthew 8:28-34 (in verse 32 Jesus simply said one word “Go” and they went). The next time the enemy attacks by speaking negative thoughts into your mind, Simply say Go.

Prayer for strength

Prayer for strength

            Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. I come to you this day thanking you for all that you are, and all that you have done for me. Today I ask you for strength to carry on. The attacks of my enemy are great and many. But I know greater are you Father that is in me, than he that is in the world which is against me. Help me not to burden down with concerns of this world but increase my portion of faith that I may lean to you in all that I go through. Your word says that many are the afflictions of the righteous but you delivereth him out of them all. Help me to see for myself that you are a deliverer of all things. I love you Father and I just ask that you be with me this day. Because I know that you hear my plea, I’m confident that you will come through for me. So for that I thank you in advance for your favor over me. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

 

            Grab and go: Pray this prayer in Jesus name and be uplifted.

Only for a moment

Isaiah 54:7

7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

When I lost my mother at younger age it really did something to me. At the time in my life where I felt God was furthest from me, He was actually nigh unto me. I now know that God had begun to make provisions for me even before I could realize what was happening.  

Mark 10:29-30

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

I want for you the reader to read this Scripture and highlight for yourself what it is/was that you maybe had to lose or let go of in order to move forward in your relationship with God. I’m not saying to forget about that person or thing that you were attached to. But to let go of the hurt and pain that it caused you. Understand that God has a way of filling voids that we have in our lives. It’s important that we be filled with Him and not of things of this world. With that being said for me I highlighted mother. I never saw it coming, but God blessed my father with a new bride. And no she doesn't replace the only mother I have ever had or ever known.  But she does make me feel like her son. I have so long for that. I am a momma’s boy to my core. So I guess you can only imagine how I felt to be a son and not have a mother to belong to. With Kassandra Mark 10:30 has come to past for me. What I lost (the belonging to) God has given me back.

Grab and go: I don’t want to make this all about me. So I encourage you to read Mark 10:29-30 again and really connect with it. For those of you who have already received your promise Rejoice for God is true to His Word. For those that are still waiting Rejoice, for God is true to His Word.

Substituting

Instead of sugar we might use artificial sweeteners. Instead of visiting someone in person we may call, and if that isn't feasible we text. If we are sick we trust doctors to give us pills and we begin to rely on them instead of trusting God to heal us. Instead of actually going to church we may watch it on TV in the convenience of our own homes.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling anyone to go throw away all your pill bottles. Nor am I telling anyone that you have to show up in person to communicate with someone, or that you can’t get a revelation at home from the message being taught on the TV. What I’m getting at is this; what happens when we begin to rely on alternative solutions instead of seeking God for resolution.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Grab and go: Don’t rely on people, places or things to sustain you. I am convinced that God is able to do all things, no matter how minuscule we may think it is. If you are not convinced, go to God in pray. Whatever it is you may feel you need to whole on to in order to get you by, ask God to give you strength to fast from that one thing for 24 hours and see if you begin to look at that thing in a different light.

Defined by sin

What if we were defined by the sin that we are in.  

Have you ever seen someone in person or either through television and saw that they may have homosexual tendencies and thought to yourself “look at how gay they are”? I like to be honest and real so let’s dive right in.

Don’t think that this is a post to condone a sin but for us to understand that no sin is greater than the other.

Isaiah 64:6

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away

 James 2:10-11

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law

I know we like to think that some sin we see others in may be worse than what we are doing. But all sin can be looked at as an abomination. Homosexuality is a sin that likes to flaunt itself on the outward appearance of a person but like all sin it started within. So really it’s no difference in the fact that we secretly commit adultery, and fornicate not only with others but against our own selves; God is not pleased with any of it because sin is contrary to His nature. He is just as displeased and grossed out by you being prideful as someone that’s dealing with homosexuality. So what does this mean? We have to learn how to look past the sin that someone may be dealing with (like Christ did for us Romans 5:8) so that we can minister to the person and not the sin. If you broke your arm, the main concerned for the doctor would be to mend the bone. The pain is just a symptom or result from the actual problem. You may receive some pain pills but the focus would be on the bone. So as ministers of the Gospel we should want to focus on the person and get to the root of what’s causing or caused the rebellion against the natural affections God intended for us to have.

Grab and go: How easy is it for us to point out sin in others yet overlook the sin within our own life. Matthew 7:1-3Judge not, that ye be not judged.2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

At least

      Some of us are the type that is ok with just getting by. In school you may have been satisfied with just making C’s instead of striving for A’s, with the mindset of “as long as I’m passing”. It may have followed you through to your adult life. In your job you may be ok with just working at the hourly level instead of pursuing a salary position, with the mindset of “at least I have a job”. 

This also carries over into how you feel about God. We go to church, maybe throw in a bible study to spice things up but never really pursue an intimate relationship with God, with the mindset of” at least I went”.

One thing is true, can’t deny that a (C) is passing, that having an hourly position allots for a paycheck, and that going to church gives us an idea of who Christ is. But with that being said, is that all that there is? NO, God wants more for you. 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.

God wants for us to have an abundant life. But don’t read that and automatically think you’re supposed to have the newest Mercedes on the lot. Just walk with me for a moment, and I’ll explain. In the book of Genesis the Word said this: Genesis 2:7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Now from this point we can establish that God is the source of which we are able to even be alive. He is our breath (our very life source). So when we go back and read John 10:10, we can see that God gave us a portion of Him (through Jesus, being God in the flesh) to be spared from death (which is our salvation)”hints Life”. But if we fervently pursue after Him we can have more of Him in abundance, (This being His Holy Spirit)'hints abundant Life" Which was sent to abide in us and we in Him.

Grab and Go: I pray that today’s Word wasn't confusing, and I’ll attempt to simplify it hear. Understand that having or receiving more of Him is the real abundance, or the real increase. Having a life that is centered around Christ will cause you to be in a position where all things work for your good (Romans 8:28) and so you can receive in this day and time those things in which your heart desires.(Mark 10:30) 

Fads Fade

There is a difference between living your life for God and living your life with God added in it. Romans 12 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.

When we live for God, we live a life that is submitting to His will. Pursuing to abstain from the pleasures of this world that we may present ourselves holy and acceptable unto God.

When we live a life with God added in it, we conform to this world and allow our sinful desires or lustful thoughts to govern the way we live. While we acknowledge that some things that we do may not be all that acceptable, still in that instants we will incorporate (add in) God to say “He knows my heart” and that somehow makes the sin that you’re in ok or not so bad. Then you can continue on doing the things you want to do.

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.

Grab and go: Living for God is a lifestyle. Living for Him defines who we are. Only by denying the former things are we able to walk in newness of life. Don’t make God a trend or something you do, because as time has proven fads fade. But God never will. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.