"Gone is the Old"

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth. (NLT)

Observation:

The LORD our God calls us to rejoice and celebrate the new life He has so graciously given us (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). He calls us to discard our old ways of living and clothe ourselves in Christ so we can live these new lives with sincerity and truth (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Application:

What a marvelous opportunity this is, my friends; that we are able to start afresh without the terrible punishment we deserve for all those ungodly and rebellious acts we once indulged in against our holy God and Creator. What joy you will experience when knowing that your sins have been forgiven and are no longer held against you! What a peace it will bring you knowing that the God of all creation has written your name in the Book of Life so that you will not be condemned for eternity. And when you embrace these truths about our living God you will want to walk boldly with confidence spreading the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, which will forever change one life at a time—just as it did for you. Come alive, my friends, and surrender your life to the LORD Jesus. Ask Him to forgive your rebellion and clean up the mess it caused, and He will immediately put His Holy Spirit to work in your heart, transforming you from the inside out (Colossians 3:9, 10). And when this happens, He will give you an entirely new vision of the life that our incredibly awesome God has so graciously given unto you.

Prayer:

How joyful it is to celebrate You, LORD God, for you have given me new life; a life which is now worth living. I will forever honor and love You with this new life, knowing that there are much better things ahead. I so look forward to telling you this face to Face.

Amen

"Power In Wisdom"

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:18

I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. (NLT)

Observation:

The most brilliant minds know how impossible it is for a person to bring himself back to life after being dead for three days. The most intelligent people on earth cannot rationalize how something can be made out of nothing. The greatest scholars and philosophers that the world has to offer get together to debate the origin of life and come up with ideas that are far more difficult to understand than the sovereignty of God and His power to create. This is why God says in verse 19; “I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas.” The most simple and easy to understand plan that God has for our lives makes the plans of wise men utterly foolish to the Creator (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Application:

I think it is of great value for brilliant people to dedicate their minds discovering how life works in order to better help and improve human life. I also believe that God created us with the desire to explore His creation and to discover new and amazing things about the universe He created with all of its amazing functions. But sadly, many of the gifted brilliant people will never discover the truth because they refuse to believe what God has said about His creation and where it is headed. The comparison I like to make of the knowledge and capability of God to that of the most brilliant men is much like comparing the size of the universe to an ameba. God is so far above man (Jeremiah 10:12) that a comparison cannot be rationally made, for with God there is no limit. We cannot and never will be able to save ourselves from dying, or from the final wrath and judgment of God. It is for this very reason that we must believe in the LORD our God and trust His every Word (Isaiah 45:22). My dear friends, the best laid plans of man are total nonsense to God, for He can change anything He wants with the blink of an eye. The best advice for mankind is found in the pages of the Bible. For if all you have is the basic knowledge of the LORD, you have far greater knowledge than the most brilliant of minds who deny God. For to believe in your Creator and by putting your precious life (the one He made) in His care is an incredibly wise choice; a decision which is not only the best way to live your life, but it is also the only way you will be able to escape the coming day of judgment that will forever separate those who have made the world their God from their Creator, who will condemn them into the place of all evil!

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for teaching us the truth about who You are and who we aren’t. So many of Your people believe they are the sole masters of their destiny; that they are the gods of their own lives. Please open the eyes of their hearts so that they, too, would know their true place in the scheme of Your plan. And with this kind of knowledge we are then able to maneuver safely through this life with confidence, and because our lives are safely in Your hands we can discover the true joy in living.

Amen

"The Road Home"

Scripture:

Ephesians 2:4 But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (NLT)

Observation:

When we live as the world lives by taking God out of the equation, we are really obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, for he is the spirit at work within the hearts of the misguided who refuse to obey God. The LORD God did not save us because He had to, my friends; He saved us because He is a gracious and loving God (Ephesians 2:8). He is the God of second chances. He is both a just and honorable God. But most of all He saved us for His glory (2 Corinthians 4:14-15).

Application:

What greater glory for the Creator than to transform His fallen and hurting people; people who were created in His likeness? What an incredible and glorious feat it will be when Jesus Christ, the All Mighty God of the universe restores His entire creation to its fullest glory! I find it quite humbling knowing that our LORD, Jesus Christ, creator of all there is, and the only one who has ever lived without sinning, died a sinner’s death so we would not have to. He did this knowing that we would never be able to keep from sinning no matter how hard we tried (Jeremiah 17:9). Everyone begins the day with their sinful natures and we all end that day living up to our sinful natures. Only with the covering of Christ can anyone be saved from the final wrath that we all deserve. My dear friends, when you truly realize the scope of what the LORD God did for you, you will humbly approach the foot of the cross and fall to your knees at the throne of His grace, praising Him for paving the road to heaven so that you could travel safely home with the peace of God and the joy of the LORD in your heart!

Prayer:

Dear LORD, help me discern the ways of world that are not from You. Help me rely on the true wisdom that comes from knowing You and Your Word. Empower me with the strength to overcome the sin that lies ready to seek and destroy. But most of all, help Your Church throughout the world stay focused solely on Your Word; the Truth which created the world.

Amen

"Living LIfe"

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:3-6

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes; these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater, who worships the things of the world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible anger of God comes upon all those who disobey Him. (NLT)

Observation:

The LORD has made it quite clear that we are to live a Godly life

(Ephesians 5:1).

Application:

We are called to live our lives as God’s Son lived His life upon this earth. This is not any easy task for anyone, my friends, especially for those of us who have lived a long life without ever really knowing Christ Jesus. For many years I only saw God has an angry God who purposely made this life as difficult as He could; enjoying the sufferings of mankind, and making it impossible to please Him. And with this false knowledge tucked under my belt I went with the flow of the world which left me empty and without hope. And the emptier and more hopeless I became, the more convinced I was that we had an unforgiving and relentlessly vengeful God. But once I heard the truth about who our God really was, this difficult life took on a whole new meaning. The world does not want you to know the true living God, for when you learn who the LORD truly is; you will honor Him with your life and He will honor you (Psalm 91:15). And when you honor Him by living His way you automatically become an enemy of the world. By becoming a friend of God, you take all the glory away from the world and it will eventually turn against you (2 Timothy 3:12). But with the power of God within you, you will be able to overcome the world just as Christ Jesus did and share in the Glory of God, which is far greater and longer lasting than anything this dying world has to offer!

Prayer:

Thank You, my LORD God, for the receipt that makes this life a better life amidst all the confusion the world preaches. I cannot imagine a world without you; it would be a life without meaning, a life without hope. We are so blessed that You cared enough for us that You provided us with a true meaning of life; a life that will shine with Your glory one day!

Amen

"Safety in God"

Scripture:

Psalm 73:26-27
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
But God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
But those who desert Him will perish,
For You destroy those who abandon You. (NLT)

Observation:

The great and mighty Sovereign God created the universe in such a way that it would always have to depend on Him for its very existence (Colossians 1:16-17). Therefore we, who He also created, depend on Him for our every need. Unfortunately, mankind has decided otherwise, and since sin entered into this world we have sought after many other gods to provide the desires of our hearts (Proverbs 14:12).

Application:

Have you ever wondered why so many worldly minded people prosper greatly at the hands of others? There has been and always will be people who focus on the world and their own selfish needs for their gain; those who disregard everyone who stands in their way or differs in their ideology. But the truth is my friends, that no matter how powerful, or how rich, or how materially successful a person becomes in this life they will always stand puny and helpless before the LORD (Hebrews 4:13). But those who honor their Creator and follow His ways will find the strength they need to survive this hard and difficult life with honor and dignity. Those who are covered in Christ will be able to stand blameless and righteous before the God of the universe. Those who depend on the LORD their God will reap the rewards for eternity. But sadly, for those who live by the gods of this world and turn their backs on the only true and living God; they will not only loose their life and everything they have achieved here on earth, but they will pay dearly the price for their disobedience!

Prayer:

Dear LORD, thank you for Your mercy and grace even though we do not deserve it. Thank You for the values that express the love You have for us, Your people. Help me gain the wisdom and courage to follow Your ways that lead to the true meaning of life. Help me remain steadfast in my dependence on You, for it is You who provides all things that have lasting value.

Amen

"Faithful Focus"

Scripture:

Colossians 3:1-2
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ,
keep seeking the things above, where Christ is,
seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on
the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (NASB)

Observation:

There is a saying in the secular world that goes something like this: There are those who are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. I believe this way of thinking is actually a contradiction, because what I have discovered in my walk with God is that those people who are focused on the eternal things of heaven accomplish more good for the world than those who think only of themselves and what they can obtain in this life. So the correct saying would be; there are too many people who are so earthly minded that they have no heavenly value whatsoever.

Application:

My, dear friends, the master deceiver, the Devil, has duped the world into believing that eternity does not exist; that this life is all there is. There happens to be a variety of world views that a person can adhere to, but sadly they all end in tragedy. The God of the Bible is the only true and living God (Jeremiah 10:10) and the only God we should befriend and worship (Luke 4:8). We have a jealous God and He paid a hefty price for us. Our lives do not belong to us, my friends; they belong to the LORD God, Christ Jesus. We cannot do whatever we want with our bodies, for they are not ours. The LORD requires us to sacrifice our bodies and not give in to our lustful desires, for when we live to satisfy the flesh we become enemies of God (James 4:4) and forfeit our heavenly inheritance. You will have so much more value, my friend, when you take your eyes off yourself and focus on the will of your Creator. This worldly life is short, but eternity happens to be a very long time!

Prayer:

I pray, dear LORD, that I will continue to strengthen in my walk with You so that no matter what happens I can not only remain focused on You, but also encourage others to do the same. With all that is happening in this world today it is often easy to be fearful and uncertain. But with You, O God, comes the peace that endures all things. And for those who know and trust in You; what we endure now in this life will be made up for in the next.

Amen

"Be Wise in God"

Scripture:

Colossians 2:8
Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy
and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking
and from the basic principles of this world, and not from Christ. (NLT)

Observation:

Much like it was in the first century AD (and even more so today) we are still bombarded with the shallow, simplistic, and satanic speculations, ideologies, philosophies, and religions that try to deny the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

What the world view deems foolish, in reality, is wisdom in its purest form—having come from the Creator of life Himself (Isaiah 44:24-25). There are multitudes of false teachers in our educational systems and in our churches throughout the world that are teaching only man-made facts and ideologies to the masses, leaving out the truth of who Christ is and how we should live our lives here in this life if we want to prosper in the next. Although the evilness of such deceit is spreading ramped all over the world, we can trust fully in the LORD our God that His Church is not only destined to survive, but will one day reign with King Jesus (Revelation 20:6) until all things are renewed and made perfect. Do not be fooled (1 Corinthians 3:19-20), my friends, for there is only One Truth that will free you from the falsehood and fate of this world. Do not be robbed of the glory that is found only in Christ Jesus our LORD and Savior. The world view will only lead you to death and eternal punishment, but the Christ centered view will lead you to everlasting life and rewards you cannot begin to imagine.

Prayer:

Dear LORD, with all the deceit that fills this fallen world, I ask You to help me keep my focus on the You, the Truth for Life. Even though my life is grounded in Your Truth, it can be so easy to fall for the lies of the Enemy. Protect Your children LORD God, and help us in our quest to remain faithful in You.

Amen

"God's Work"

Scritpure:

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing,
That He who began a good work in you
Will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (NASB)

Observation:

The apostle Paul is writing with authority knowing absolutely that with the Spirit of God living in our hearts, no matter what our struggles may be, that our sanctification will continue to change us into the kind of godly people that we are called to be until that time when we are taken up to be with the LORD.

Application:

Although we have the Holy Spirit guiding and revealing God’s Truth for us, there are some things that we must do ourselves in order for God’s good works to progress. We must first begin to develop a loving relationship with Him through prayer, meditation, and obedience. When we are faithful in doing these things the LORD will work miraculously in our lives giving us godly insight, confidence, and the power to overcome our sinful natures (1 Corinthians 10:13), one step at a time. God does not expect anyone to change overnight, my friends, because He knows us a whole lot better than we know ourselves, for in reality He personally created each one of us (Psalm 33:13, 15). Once I began drawing closer to God, the more I began to trust Him with my life. And the more I trusted Him with my life, the more I began to rely on Him. But with that said, my life has not necessarily become easier, and my relationship with Him does not always go as smoothly as I would like. But I can truthfully say that the more time I spend with God and the more time I spend in His Word, the more I am discovering that the ways of the Lord are always right and always best. He teaches us hard headed and hard hearted people through our mistakes, for our mistakes are many! And as we work through our mistakes, we not only grow in our knowledge of the LORD, but along with His wisdom He gives us both the courage and the strength to live godly lives with heavenly rewards (2 Timothy 4:18).

Prayer:

Thank You, LORD God, for Your saving grace. Thank You for all You have done and for all that You will continue to do until that time when You will restore Your creation to its fullest glory. Until then, help us with our quest to remain faithful to You and Your Way so that the entire world would know You and Your Truth.

"Urgent Message"

“Urgent Message”

Scripture:

Philippians 3:18-19
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes,
that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things,
and all they think about is this life here on earth. (NLT)

Observation:

Whenever I read these God breathed words, which were written to the believers in Philippi by the apostle Paul, it reintegrates the urgency for all believers everywhere to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are lost, deceived and without hope when it comes to the eternal state of their precious souls.

Application:

The greatest concern that we have is not the time of Jesus’ return, or the taking away of His Church, or even the end of time itself, but the most urgent concern we should seriously be aware of, is that moment when the flame of ones precious earthly life will flicker out; never again having the opportunity nor the resources to reconcile with the Living God. For the truth is (no matter what you may believe) the dead cannot be saved (Hebrews 9:27). Once this life is finished, my dear friends—when you breathe your final breath on earth, the state of your eternal soul will be determined for all eternity, and the eternity I speak of is a very long time indeed! Our gracious and merciful LORD God wants no one to suffer eternal death and damnation, because He is, by nature, a saving God, but we must take to heart that He is also a perfectly just God as well (Exodus 34:6, 7). All sin must be punished and that punishment is found in the Lake of Fire. The fallen angels (Satan and his rebellious army of angels) do not get a second chance to redeem themselves, but because God values His created children above “all” else, He gives us many chances in this life to find the only way to redemption; through His Son! This absolute truth alone should bring you to your knees at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, for it is only through the Holy Covering of His grace that anyone can be made right with God and see the eternal life He has promised us. If you believe in this truth, you need to take up your cross and walk in its light so that those who walk in darkness will find the True Savior and be saved (1 Corinthians 4:6). And for those of you who live only for this life, please take seriously the final warnings of God, because sadly, you are about to find out that when your earthly life is finished, the final option you are left with will not only be rather disheartening, but one that will be incredibly painful as well.

Prayer:

Dear LORD God, my Savior, help strengthen both my heart and courage in order to light up this dark world to give Your people the only Hope there is in this world gone astray. Help all believers, everywhere, Lord Jesus, and give them the wisdom to know when to act and what to say so the Light of Your Truth will shine for all the world to see. This is a mission that You have called all Your believers to be on, for our time is running short.

Amen