No Blame, No Blemishes, No Barriers!

Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

I don't know how many times I have read this verse of Scripture. Being that Ephesians is my favorite book of the Bible, its is definetly in the hundreds or maybe even thousands of times. And yet, something in this verse stood out to me that I never saw before. Christ chose us before the earth was ever created for us to be "holy and without blame before him in love." Here's what I never realized----this Scripture is telling us that we stand in God's presence with absolutely no blame, no blemishes, and no barriers between us and him!

The Greek word for blame is "amomos." It means blameless, faultless, and without blemish. The Greeks reserved the word to describe religious and moral perfection----a seemingly impossible position to attain. It became a technical term to “designate the absence of anything amiss in a sacrifice, of anything which would render it unworthy to be offered."

When I consider this statement, it is an astounding truth----something that is difficult to accept at face value, and yet, it is the truth. Think of it----we stand before God in a state of perfection! He sees us with no blemishes. The things that we see about ourselves that we don't like. He doesn't see them. The traits in us that bother the people close to us. He doesn't notice them. The physcological barriers that we erect through our low self-esteem and insecurities. To Him, they don't exist. God sees us perfect, worthy, and 100% acceptable.

This truth supercedes any artificial attempts to boost our egos. It hovers far beyond our silly mind games of trying to feel better about ourselves. It goes beyond healthy self-esteem and brings authenticity to man's feeble attempts to overcome guilt and build self-confidence. It is truth that will change our lives if we would just settle it in our minds forever. You and me..........we are on good terms with the Father! How did this happen? It didn't happen by mistake or because God decided to overlook all our faults. It happened because Christ decided to take all our sins, all our mess-ups, and give us all his perfection, all his righteousness, and all his beauty. We are without blemish because he removed the stain of sins from us-----once and for all, forever!

How will this truth change your life if you would just accept it, agree with it, allow it to change your thinking about yourself? Would your days of depression end? Would you cease to avoid the Father and instead draw near to Him? Would you dare to dream for better things in your life---now that you know how qualified you are before God? Would you view others in a more positive light because you are no longer looking down on yourself? Would you expect better things, greater things, and a more enjoyable future?

I say the answer is a resounding "Yes!" to all the above. Determine to live life with no blame, no blemishes, no barriers!!

Thought for the Day

The answer to low self-esteem is in seeing how God sees us

The Basis for Your Prosperity

Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

As a Christian, what is the basis for your prosperity in the Kingdom of God? I'm not talking about merely the principles that all of society considers keys to prosperity----such as working hard, getting a good education, saving and investing, ect. I am talking specifically about your prosperity as a believer in God's "way of doing things."

I have found that most people believe that the key to their prosperity is in their giving. Whether it be their tithing, their offerings, or their charity to the poor----we have been taught that giving is the basis for our prosperity. But this is not correct.

Now I know I have you startled at this point. Let me make it clear that I believe in giving. And the Bible has much to say about giving, both in the Old and New Testaments. Giving is very important. Anybody who functions as God created them to be----will be a giver. We are made in the image of God, and God is this biggest Giver of all!

But our giving is not the basis for our prosperity. The basis for our prosperity, as New Covenant believers, is the Blood of Christ. Please catch that statement! The basis for our prosperity is the Blood of Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less. We are blessed, not because we give, but because Jesus gave his life for us (Galatians 1:4). We give not to be blessed, but we give because we are blessed! To turn this around to say that we give to be blessed is to say that the blood of Christ was not enough. This was the same error some of the Jews made in the early church. In Acts 15 there were some teachers that said the new believers in Christ also needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. Simply, they were saying that the blood of Christ was not enough. Something more had to be done. Today, you won't here teaching in church telling people they need to be circumcised in order to be saved. But you will hear plenty of teaching telling people that they need to do more in order to be blessed. Isn't this the same faulty teaching wrapped in different garments----the blood of Christ is not enough.

Now the Scripture does make it clear that we are responsible to walk worthy of the calling we have received. Doctrine should always be followed by duty. But everything we do should be out of thankfulness of what He has already done! The truth is that the blood of Christ is enough! It is enough to purchase your salvation. It is enough to provide your healing. It is enough to forgive your sins. And the blood of Christ is enough to provide you with financial prosperity!

2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Does the Father take care of us because we give or because He loves us? Does he give us increase because we tithe or because Jesus gave His all for us?

Matthew 10:29-31
²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
³¹ Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

This message is not an "anti-tithing" message. This is not a call to cease from giving to the work of the Lord. But this is a word to put this subject of financial prosperity into proper perspective. Give because you are blessed! Give because of what Jesus has already done for you!

With this perspective, I believe we will find ourselves giving more. With this perspective, I believe we will have more to give! We will not be confined to a ten-percent obligation. This knowledge adjusts our thinking and awakens our faith in God's willingness to manifest every provision we have need of. Think of how freeing it is to know that God blesses you on the basis of what Christ has done---not on the basis of what you have or have not done.

Will their be times that God leads you to give as an act of faith, as you are trusting for your own miracle or blessing to manifest. Of course.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness......

God gives seed to the sower. He provides bread to the sower. And he will multiply the seed that was sown. But all of this is dependent upon the giver being a "cheerful giver (verse 7)." We can be cheerful in releasing our gift when we know that God has already released his gift toward us in Christ. It is only because of what He gave (His life) that we have something to give. All further increase in our lives finds its source in Christ. The glory cannot go to us. Now if the basis for our increase is in our giving, then the glory goes to us. We made it happen. But if the increase finds its source in Christ, then the glory goes to Him. That's how we got saved. That's how we got blessed. And that's how we will experience increase. The blood of Christ is enough.

Thought for the Day:

"The blood of Christ is the basis for your prosperity"

How to Know If You Are Hearing the Gospel

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Many messages and sermons are described as the "Gospel." We have heard of "Gospel churches," "full-Gospel meetings," and "Gospel preachers." It is thought that anybody that mentions Jesus and refers to the Bible must be "preaching the Gospel." But not everything that is called "Gospel" is really the "Gospel"! Some messages and speeches that are called the Gospel are not even close to accurately announcing the message of the Gospel.

So how can we tell if what we are hearing is the true Gospel? This is important for us to know because the Scripture tells us that when we hear the true Gospel, the power of God is being made available to us (Romans 1:16).

Here are several questions to ask in determining if what you are hearing taught or preached is really the Gospel:

1. Is the message declaring good news?
The very meaning of the Greek word for Gospel means "good news." The word was used to describe personal or political messages that would incite joy and relief. When a soldier came back from the battlefield with a triumphant message of victory, the message was called "the Gospel." When a herald was sent with a message of good news for the people, the message was called "the Gospel." The Gospel is the Good News that Christ has paid for the sins of the world and people are now reconciled to God through Christ's sacrifice. This is Good News! This understanding would eliminate over 50% of the preaching and teaching that is done behind pulpits from being defined as "the Gospel." Much of what we hear the church declaring today is bad news! The Gospel is always good and never condemns and oppresses people.

2. Is the message declaring that something good has happened or that something good will one day happen?
Again, the Gospel is good news. Does news announce what has happened or what what will one day happen? Of course, news declares what has already transpired. News is important information that happened in the past. We can define it like this: a current announcement about events that have already taken place. So when you hear the Gospel, it is not a message of what God will one day do; the Gospel is the good news of what God has already done! The Gospel is not a message that God will one day heal, one day bless, one day prosper, and one day forgive. The Gospel is the message that these things are already done! In other words, the Gospel is not a prophecy; it is a proclamation.

3. Is the message focusing of the person of Christ?
Notice that Paul said he is not ashamed of the "gospel of Christ." Romans 10:17 tells us that "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ." A Gospel without Christ is no Gospel at all! The predominate theme of every message should be Christ. When we have a big vision of Christ we will not settle for the mediocrity of methods and the regiment of religion. The Gospel is the message of Christ.

4. Is the message focused on what the people should do or on what Christ has done?
So much of today's preaching and teaching puts the emphasis on telling people all that they should and should not do. While personal application is always necessary for an effective life, the message of the Gospel is not what people need to do, it is in what Christ has already done. Paul was very clear in the book of Galatians that their is no other Gospel but the Gospel of Grace. Legalism is never the Gospel. The Gospel of Grace is not a flashlight focusing on the blemishes and sins of an individual; the Gospel of Grace is a spotlight revealing the beauty and grace of Christ. When the Gospel is accurately presented, the reaction is not to look inward at your insufficeny but the reaction is to look outward at the sufficeny of Christ. If you go away from a teaching overly introspective and discouraged at your failures, you probably did not hear the Gospel. If you hear a message and it causes you to stand amazed at the sacrifice of Christ and the goodness of God, rest assured, you just heard the Gospel!

When You Feel "Under" Look to the One Who is Over

Hebrews 2:8-9
⁸ Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.


God created men and women to reign in life. We were created to be in authority over the elements, circumstances, and even the natural world in which we live. Created in the image of God, we are intended to rule and reign, free from any oppression, dictatorship, or suppression. This desire is in the DNA of who we are. Maybe this is why we spend all of our lives striving to reach the pinnacle of success. We strive for the top because we were meant to be on top!

Hebrews 2:5-8 tells us that God created mankind to reign supreme on earth. Only God is meant to be over us. And yet, this idea is now only a dream, an utopia. While we were meant to rule, the sad facts are that we are being ruled. Hebrews 2:9 tells us we were meant to have all things under our feet "but we see not yet all things under him." Sin has fractured the original plan of God for mankind's freedom and liberty. Now we see people not overcoming in life---but being overcome. The very things that we were supposed to rule over----are now ruling us. From addictions to substances to bearing the burdens of worry and cares---man is suppressed under the weights of worry and the chains of circumstances. These things ought not be. We were created to live a care-free live, easily issuing our God-given authority and reigning down here on this earth. So what is the solution to this dilemma? Will we just call it "the way things are" or will we retrieve our original position of freedom?

Hebrews 2:9 gives us the answer. After telling us that we do not see man ruling and reigning as he was created to, the writer tells us to "See Jesus." The answer to the things that weigh us down is to see the One who is over all, Jesus the Christ. We are to see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor." Interestingly, Jesus in his divinity is crowned with the same things man was crowned with. The results of Jesus' death are "glory and honor," the same crown which the Lord intended for mankind (Psalm 8:5).

When we see Jesus, we see the One who is over all. And when we see the One who is over all, we identify with His victory and supremacy. Jesus is over debt, sickness, disease, poverty, addiction, and every other oppression that seeks to rule man. Nothing that is weighing you down is over the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't put your focus on the burden, shift your attention to the risen Christ. What is towering over you is beneath his feet. Look to Him. Take your place with Him. As you do, you will rise above every defeating circumstance and situation.

Thought for the Day

When you see and identify with Jesus you will rise to a place of victory and success in life.

What's More Dangerous: Sin or Self-Righteousness?

Matthew 11:23-24
²³ And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
²⁴ But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

For many years, the church has made a big deal over sin. At least in the churches that I grew up in, there was a strong emphasis on the dangers of sin, specifically, what was thought of as the notable sins. The message was clear: "don't dance, drink, smoke, or chew or run with those who do." I heard countless messages on the dangers of sin, the disease of sin, and the death that sin brings.

Now don't get me wrong, sin is dangerous. The wages of sin is death. But we should have made a bigger deal of the One who paid those wages on the Cross----Jesus! Why should we make a big deal of sin and minimize the work of Christ? It should be the other way around---we emphasize that Jesus paid the price for sin on the Cross and watch sin fade into the background. It's not making light of sin, it's simply making a big deal of Jesus!

Sin is not too big for Jesus to handle. Romans 5:20 tells us that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. The Greek wording indicates that grace "super-abounds.....and then even more grace on top of that"! No, sin will never be a worthy opponent to grace. But there is something that is more dangerous than sin and a greater threat to the grace of God. It's called self-righteousness.

In Matthew 11:23-24, Jesus makes a remarkable statement. He says that if the miracles that he did in Capernaum had been done in Sodom and Gommarah, Sodom and Gommorah would have repented and remained. Remember, they were the cites that were "nuked" by the wrath of God. Modern-day archeologists have a difficult time even finding remnants that such cities existed. They were literally burnt to the ground because of their gross immorality, and most notably, their homosexuality. And yet, Jesus said that if he had been there and done his miracles in those cities that he did in Capernaum, those cities of gross immorality would have had a revival and received Jesus with open arms.

Capernaum, on the other hand, experienced the earthly ministry of Jesus but did not repent. Jesus lived in the region of Capernaum, spent most of his time there, taught there, and did most of his miracles in their midst. But as a whole, Capernaum refused the ministry of Christ. Unlike Sodom, they were a much more polished and civilized people. Set along the sea, Capernaum was a region of religion and a safe city. It was the kind of place you would want to raise your children. But it was a region mired in self-righteousness. They didn't need Christ, they had their religion. But Jesus could not stand their religious arrogance.

Matthew 11:23-24 (The Message Paraphrase)
²³ And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around.
²⁴ At Judgment Day they'll get off easy compared to you."

This makes us ask the question: what is more dangerous, sin or self-righteousness?

In light of Jesus' jarring statement, I say self-righteousness if more dangerous. Please understand, I'm not making light of sin. But when people recognize their need and humble themselves before the grace of the Lord, no sin can stop the salvation of Christ. In contrast, self-righteousness hinders Christ's ability to save. Religion renders grace powerless to move.

Our current world may resemble Sodom and Gomorrah with our unbridled passions, greed and love of money, social injustice, and our twisted, confused natures. But we are in a better position than ancient Sodom because Jesus is here. Jesus has come. And Jesus forgives. We, too, can repent, be revived, and remain. As long as we don't resemble self-righteous Capernaum, His grace cannot be stopped.

Thought for the day

Self-righteousness if dangerous because it impedes the grace of God

Not Our Will-power but His Will-power

Hebrews 8:12
¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

You have probably heard the statement, "If there's a will, there is a way." The statement is clear: if we have determination to do something, we will always find the method or path to do it. This kind of thinking makes sense from a natural standpoint. Man has done some amazing things through the power of a "made-up mind" and unrelenting determination.

The problem comes when we attempt to mix this kind of philosophy with the Gospel. According to the Gospel, the answer to our problems is not more "will-power." The answer to the drug addicts struggle with addiction is not in having more self-discipline and a stronger resolve to stay away from drugs. The solution to people's inability to control their lusts and passions is not in their will. And the way to success is not in living a life that depends on the strength of our flesh.

The Gospel tells us that our will is not the way; Jesus is the way! (John 14:6). In Hebrews chapter eight, God initiates the New Covenant of faith in Christ. In explaining the New Covenant, God uses the words "I will" six times. He says "I will make a new covenant.....I will make (this covenant) with the house of Israel.....I will put my laws into their mind......I will be to them a God......I will be merciful to their unrighteousness......I will remember their sins no more."

The burden of responsibility is on the Father. In the Old Testament, the focus was on what man could do. In this new way, the focus is on what Christ has already done. Six times, he says what He will do. Of course, the number six is the number of man. This is a covenant established by the Father and Jesus and mankind becomes the beneficiary of the blessings! When we accept the Father's work through Christ, our strength is no longer in our will-power. Our strength is in His will-power! The power of His will is more than enough to cause us to overcome and succeed in any area of our lives.

Stop relying on your own will-power to overcome and succeed in life. Find yourself in His will! In that will, there is more than enough power for you to succeed!

Thought for the Day

When the strength of our will fails, the power of His will takes over

The Kingdom Way to Change for the Better

2 Corinthians 3:18

¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

All of us have certain areas of our lives that we want to see changed for the better. God put within our DNA the desire to increase, improve, and influence. A sense of satisfaction comes when we can see the positive proofs in our lives that we have changed for the better. The question is: how do we change for the better? Man's answer to this common question is to work harder, become more disciplined, give more self-effort, and stay diligent, focused, and determined to reach the desired goal. There is nothing "evil" about this approach to change. Many positive things come through man's diligent effort. But is this diligent self-effort also God's prescribed method of change?Now that we are in Christ and the Kingdom of God is within us, what does God say about the power to change?

As in many things, God's method of change is drastically different than man's way. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we are changed when we behold "as in a mirror the glory of God." The glory of the Lord is the entirety of God's goodness, loving nature, and faithful character. In the New Covenant, Jesus is the totality of the glory of God. So we are changed for the better when we behold Jesus. This seems too simple in contrast to man's hard work and self-effort. But this is God's way. This is a better way.

Also note that we are to behold God's glory "as in a mirror." In the natural, when we look into a mirror, we see ourselves. But the mirror we are to look into is the Word of God (James 1:23). In the Word of God we see our true selves, we see who we are in Christ. As we behold Jesus and gaze upon his perfection and his perfect work that he did on our behalf, we are "changed." The Greek word is "metamorphoo" meaning "transformed." We are not just changed, we are transformed. Biblically, there is a difference. When you work hard, stay disciplined, and give optimal effort to change, you can modify your behavior. On the inside you are still the same but you have modified your behavior on the outside. But when you gaze upon the glory of God in the perfection of Christ, you are transformed. Transformation is stronger than change. In transformation, the change happens from the inside out. This is God's way to change---the better way!

While man seeks change through hard work, discipline, and determination, God works change in us through grace. Specifically he graces us in three ways so that we can change from the inside out:

1. The grace to behold the perfection of Jesus and His perfect work (2 Cor 3:18)

2. The grace to renew our minds, change our beliefs to line up with His Word, and thus, change our outward actions (Romans 12:1-2)

3. The grace to obtain all the goals and destiny God has set before us (1 Cor 15:10)

If you have been trying to achieve change through your own effort and hard work, make a decision today to see change happen in your life---God's way. Don't rely upon your own strength to change for the better. Look to Christ and watch the transformation take place!

Don't Look Down on Yourself but Look Up to Christ

2 Corinthians 3:3-5
³ Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
⁴ And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

In today's culture of self-worship, so much emphasis is put on having a healthy and positive self-esteem. The fruit of this emphasis is people who either are arrogant and self-centered or people who are depressed and downcast. Both extremes are the results of looking to self for satisfaction and sufficiency.

I believe that it is important to be confidant, secure in who you are, and demonstrate a healthy confidence in how God has made you. But I don't believe that focusing on "self-esteem" is the answer for the child of God. We have something better than "self-esteem" and it's "highly esteeming Christ." When we look to Christ, we gain an authentic security and satisfaction in who we are. In 2 Corinthians chapter three, Paul is focusing on the difference between the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses and the New Covenant in Christ Jesus. In this New Covenant, he says that we "are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." This is a powerful statement that hits the "self-esteem" mentality straight between the eyes! We are not to think anything of ourselves! Now does this mean we are to look down on ourselves, beat ourselves up, and walk around with a sense of false humility of how horrible we are? Absolutely not! The key is in finding your sufficiency in who you are in Christ. The more you look on Christ, the more confident and secure you become!

In the Old Covenant, the burden of performance was upon the people. If God's people performed adequately by obeying God and being holy, then they were eligible for God's blessings. In other words, they learned to become "self-sufficient." Religion thrives on self-sufficiency. Now this will make you either boastful or beat-down. Boastful if you perform well; beat down if you perform inadequately. But in the New Covenant, our sufficiency is not in ourselves. Our sufficiency is in what Christ has done---- not in what we have or haven't done.

This truth is so powerful it will change your life for the better! Down look down on yourself but look up to Christ. He has the perfect pedigree, the perfect performance, and the perfect position! Find yourself in Him and all will be well!

Thought for the Day

When you look to yourself, you will always find an imperfection. But when you look to Christ, you will find yourself in his perfection.

God will Never Be Angry With You Again

It never feels good when people are angry with you. Despite how emotionally strong we are or how much self-confidence we possess, having someone angry at you can affect you in a negative way. Sometimes somebody close to you will be angry with you and not verbally communicate their anger toward you but they will show signs of their displeasure. They won't talk to you, they avoid you, or they show no signs of love and agreement. Other times, people will be angry with you and they will be sure to let you know their feelings! They scream, yell, punish, and even may seek to harm you. These are never enjoyable moments!

How much greater would the negative impact on us be if God, the Maker of heaven and earth, was angry with us? How would he show his anger toward us? Would he punish us? Maybe he would refuse to allow good things to happen in our life. Or maybe he would display the silent kind of anger and refuse to speak to us, show his goodness towards us, or give us the sense of agreement and peace. And if God really gets angry with us, would he become wrathful and even seek to harm and hurt us?

For many people, these are legitimate questions. Religion has taught us that God will get angry with us just like people can get angry with us. And when God gets really angry, it's not outlandish to think that he would even allow tragedy to happen to us.

Today, let's set the record straight! God has promised that he would never be angry with us again! Not even for one moment or second! In Isaiah chapter 54, God is predicting the coming of the New Covenant established by the death and ressurection of his Son, Jesus Christ. In this passage God makes this promise: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies I will gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so I have sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee" (Isaiah 54:7-10).

The promises in this passage are outstanding and seem almost too good to be true! But that is exactly what the Gospel is----almost too good to be true news! Now notice the words in this passage. First the Father said, "For a small moment have I forsaken thee....." The history of Israel shows us that God forsook his people momentarily when they disobeyed him. But in light of the fact that God will never forsake his people again, this is merely a sliver of time in the light of eternity. Secondly, the Father said he will have "everlasting kindness" towards us and everlasting "mercy" on us. How long is everlasting? It's forever! Think of it. God will take our lifetimes and eternity to show His kindness towards us. And his mercy will never run out!

Then, God illustrates his promise that he would never again flood the earth as in the times of Noah. Likewise, he has "sworn" that he never again will be angry with us or show us his wrath. Simply taking the time to read this passage slowly will stop all the preachers and the world from blaming God whenever a natural disaster of tragedy occurs. God has promised to never be angry with us or show us his wrath!

But this passage also has personal benefits for your own life. You do not have to live under the burden of thinking that God is mad at you. God is not holding his goodness back from you because of your sins or failures. And he will never hurt or punish you. In contrast, he desires to show you his kindness for the rest of your life and beyond! He has promised that this kindness towards you will never cease and he will forever relate to you based upon the eternal covenant of his peace (verse 10). So when the "mountains shall depart and the hills be removed" remember that it is not God who is angry with you. And if God is not angry with you, then that puts everything in proper perspective.

Thought for the Day

People may get angry with you, but God will never get angry with you.

Keep it Simple!

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

This one verse reveals a great truth: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple! Now this may sound so simple that it doesn't offer much great revelation or insight. But I disagree. Over the years, religion has complicated the simplicity of the Gospel. Primarily, this has been done by adding more and more requirements, rules, and regulations to walking in relationship with the Father. The focus shifts from what Christ HAS DONE to all that we NEED TO DO. Once this happens, the purity of the Gospel is tainted by unhealthy additives!

The Apostle Paul was concerned that "the simplicity that is in Christ" would be complicated by the strategy of the serpent, the devil. Just like the devil tempted Eve, he would tempt us to complicate the Gospel to the point where it is unrecognizable. Of course, the enemy wants to do this because the Gospel is the "power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). The devil fears the simple Gospel! He fears a people who will live their lives in the simplicity that is in Christ! True power to live an overcoming successful life is found only in the Gospel.

Notice that the serpent will try to complicate the simplicity that is in Christ "by any means." Also notice that his target is our minds and thoughts. This indicates that his tools will be teachings, philosophies, and ideas. We don't like to admit it, but the church has been one of the primary perpetrators of corrupting people's minds from the simplicity that is in Christ! That may be hard to swallow, but it is the truth. Think of all the teachings and messages you have heard that added more requirements to the Gospel than was necessary. The messages implied that its Jesus and this or that. It's Jesus and your ability to live holy. It's Jesus and your faithfulness. This is not the Gospel! The Gospel is Jesus plus nothing equals everything!

Many will agree that the Gospel is simple in its presentation for salvation: Jesus died, he rose again, and salvation is dependent on you believing and receiving Jesus as Lord (Romans 10).But once we do that, the Christian life becomes more and more complicated. In other words, we started out simple, but now the journey becomes more difficult and elaborate. Religion urges us, "You can't stay with such a simple message, grow up! Get deeper!" But this kid of thinking is a great deception and exactly the kind of mentality the serpent wants us to have.

Colossians 2:6 says, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." Now think about how you "received Christ." Did you work your way into receiving Christ? Did you live a holy life to receive Christ? Did you serve God to receive Christ? Absolutely not! You received Christ by hearing truth and believing it! The same way you received Christ is the same way you are going to grow in Christ. You hear the truth of the good news and you believe it!

I know this goes against much of what we have been taught because it's too simple! But its the simplicity of Christ that will work wonders in your life! Come out of the confusion, the complexities, and the entanglements of religion. Choose to keep it simple!

Thought for the Day

The simplicity of Christ is enough to confuse the serpent and work the miraculous in your life.

The New Covenant Mentality

Have you ever got stuck reading a certain passage of Scripture. Recently, I am "stuck" on 2 Corinthians chapter three. In this passage, the Apostle Paul clearly shows that there is a New Covenant that has come into place since the death of Christ. This New Covenant is to be the "policy manual" for the Christian. Unfortunately, many Christians are still operating with an Old Covenant mentality. They approach God on the basis of their performance, they labor under a "works" mentality, and ministry becomes tainted with religiosity and legalism. But 2 Corinthians 3 tells us that the Old Covenant is a ministry of "death" and "condemnation." If we want our lives to be snuffed out and die a slow death, then the Old Covenant is where we want to be! But if we want life, joy, peace, and wellness, then we must turn to the New Covenant and renew our minds to this new way of living!

As I continue to meditate on this passage, we see several truths concerning this New Covenant:

1. In the New Covenant, the emphasis is on living from the heart and not being dictated by a book of rules and regulations (verse 3).

2. In the New Covenant, the emphasis is on depending upon the sufficiency of Christ and not relying upon self-sufficiency (verses 4 and 5).

3. In the New Covenant, the emphasis is on living and enjoying life as Christ infuses His life into every area of our life (v6).

4. In the New Covenant, we are given the ability to have ever-increasing revelation and a closer relationship with the Father (v7-8).

5. In the New Covenant, we can have a greater expectation of miracles, God's manifest presence, and blessings in our lives (v8-9).

6. In the New Covenant, we are given a guarantee that if we teach the right message, we will get the right results (v9).

7. In the New Covenant, we no longer need to live by the dictations and burden of the Old Covenant (v10-11 Amplified version).

8. In the New Covenant, there is no need for hesitancy, wonder, or questioning; ministers of the New Covenant can be bold, emphatic, certain, and fearless (v12).

9. In the New Covenant, there is no need for hype, playacting, showiness; we are free to be authentic, transparent, and real (v13-14).

10. In the New Covenant, the moment you turn to Christ, the veil is taken away (v15-16).

11. In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit has full liberty to work (v17).

Praise God the veil has been lifted! There is no hindrance to our relationship with the Father. The glory of God is now in us! Once we get rid of the law mentality, we can see the grace and goodness of God clearly!

Freedom from Religion

I am thankful that we have freedom of religion in our country. But what we really need is freedom from religion. When I use the word "religion" I am referring to mankind's attempts to find God and gain his approval and love through self-efforts, dogmas, and traditions of men. This kind of religion is nothing more than humanism wrapped in the robes of self-righteousness. America doesn't need anymore of this kind of religion----we need freedom from religion!

The establishment of religion has historically been the root of humanities problems. In the Garden of Eden, it was man's desire to differentiate between good and evil, thus establishing his own moral code apart from God, that brought sin on the earth (This is an amazing truth to me. Adam and Eve's downfall was not some grand moral failure. It was the establishment of a religion!). In the building of the Tower of Babel, it was mankind's desire to build something that reached the heavens (literally, that represented the heavens) and establish a monumental work that would bring glory to humanity. This was religion at its best---and worst. At Mt.Sinai, it was the people's arrogant rejection of relationship and boasting that they would "do all that God commanded them to do" that resulted in immediate failures and death. They exchanged relationship and a covenant of grace for religion and a covenant of law.

If religion is so inadequate then why is it so enticing? Religion caters to man's inherent need to perform. Instead of boasting what God has done for us, religion boasts of what we need to do for God. This is heresy, and upon this premise religion thrives.

There was a popular saying when I was a child growing up in the church. It said, "I'm not religious, I just love the Lord." I believe we need to return to that saying. But it needs to be more than a slogan imprinted on a Christian t-shirt or bumper sticker. We need to know that Christ came not to establish another religion, but to set us free from religion and escort us into a real, live relationship with a loving Father.

What is the "Love of God"?

I love studying on the subject of faith. We have all heard the Scriptures:

"Faith moves mountains"

"You just need a mustard-seed of faith."

"Without faith you cannot please God."

"Faith is the evidence of things not seen....."

"Faith comes by hearing the Word of God."

Then we discovered how faith works: "Faith works by love" (Galatians 5:6). Once I may made that discovery, I did my best to walk in God's love. I knew that if I wasn't walking in love towards my brother, my faith would not work! So I need to stay in love! I cannot step out of love towards my brother, my family, my church! I need to my faith to work, so stay in love!

I propose to you that my emphasis was wrong. Yes, faith works by love........but whose love is it? It's not my love towards others I should be focusing on. It is God's love towards me!

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:10).

Notice that John clearly defines love----"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us......" When I focus on loving others so that my faith can work, I fail. But when I focus on how much God loves me, I succeed in loving others. We have to get the progression correct! We are not to boast in our love for God or our love for others, we are to boast in God's love towards us! This is love! And this is one of the big differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. In Deuteronomy 6 God instructs His people to "love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and strength." But in the New Covenant, God tells us how He loves us with all his heart, soul, and strength! In the Old Covenant the responsibility was on the people. In the New Covenant, the responsibility is on the Father! Now this is a love that will work!

There is Always More Grace Then There is Sin

Romans 5:20 says, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound...."

The actual Greek rendering of this verse gives much more explanation:

"For the law slipped in that sin might increase, but where sin increased, grace did super-abound----and then more grace on top of that."

As bad as things may get in the world, grace will always be greater.
As difficult as things may get in your life, grace will always be more abundant.

This is the promise of God's Word! It is so easy to focus on the sin and what the enemy may be doing in our world or even our own personal lives. Sin and difficulty is visible. Grace, in contrast, is invisible. Grace comes from God and God is a spirit. Initially, even though grace is available, you cannot see it. This is why grace is activated by faith.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith......" There is a superabundant amount of grace available for you but you must have faith that it is there-----and that it is for you!

This may be one of the most powerful and insightful revelations in all of Scripture! As sin increases, grace increases even more........and then some more grace on top of that! Knowing this, is there ever a legitimate reason to be discouraged? Is there ever a time we should hang or heads and be distraught? Absolutely not! When we know and believe this truth, we will rest and trust in God giving us more than enough grace to overwhelm every failure, every hardship, and every circumstance that seemingly is against us.

The next time you begin to focus on the negative circumstances you are facing, make a shift in your thinking and begin to dwell on the superabundant grace that will cause you to be victorious! Be confident that grace is increasing in your life through the love and goodness of the Father!

God's System of Success

Everything is life is dependent relationships. If you have good, healthy relationships, life will go well for you. If you have broken, painful relationships, life will drag along like one big heavy burden. This is the way God designed life. Relationships are so important, the whole of our existence cannot be complete without good relationships. Never attempt to sacrifice relationships on the altar of rewards. It will never work. Every good thing comes out of healthy relationships governed by God's guidelines and mandates.

There is one important relationship that is often neglected----the relationship with a spiritual mentor and advisor. An attitude of independancy combined with a culture that is agitated with faith-based leadership and organizations has resulted in spiritual mentorship on the verge of extinction. This is foolish and unnecessary. For as long as the Spirit of God is on the earth, there will be men and women of God who have been divinely commissioned to declare the Word of God for a wayward people.

"But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah."

We learn the following from this verse about spiritual mentorship:

1. Lack of recognition of a man of God can cause you to wander and waste time concerning your future.

"Is there not here a prophet of the Lord".........the man of God was always there, but no one was recognizing him. You can not utilize what you do not recognize. A failure to discern the gifts around you is the ultimate poverty. Look around. God always has a man or woman of God who has a Word for you.

2. Never get to be such a "big shot" that you think you don't need a man of God's influence in your life.

Why didn't Jehoshaphat, the King of Israel, know who Elisha was? It was the king's servant that had to introduce Elisha to the king. People who come into power or prestige will be tempted to ignore godly council and influence. The higher you go up in life, the more you need the grounding of mentorship-----not less. Celebrity should not negate Council. Power should not nullify the Prophet. Increase should never cause you to turn off the valve of Influence.

3. Don't wait for a crisis before you are open to godly council.

It is great that Jehoshaphat called on the prophet in a time of need. But crisis should not be the only thing that connects us to a man or woman of God. The man of God is not a fireman, someone you only need when there is an emergency.

4. Be careful to only listen to men who listen to others. Serve men who are serving others.

Wrong mentorship can cost you over a lifetime. The servant determined Elisha's credibility by who mentored and instructed Elisha. "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah." The servant is saying, "This man is worthy to be listened to. He spent a majority of his life serving the prophet Elijah." You can find out a lot about a person by discovering who they are connected to. Who have they learned from? Who do they serve? Who has a voice in their life. I would never want to follow a lone ranger. I do not want to spend my life serving someone who doesn't serve himself. I don't want to give into a non-giver. I refuse to be mentored by someone who has not been mentored themselves!

You've Already Got It!

The book of Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In its short but rich pages, the believer is informed of all the blessings that are available in Christ. Some say the book of Ephesians is the Apostle Paul's most positive, encouraging book of all his epistles. For three chapters Paul identifies all that God has done for us through Christ. In the last three chapters Paul instructs us how we are to live in response to God's love and blessings toward us.

One thing really strikes me about the book of Ephesians and it is this: all the blessings described are stated as an accomplished fact and not as something that is still to come. For instance, we are told the following:

"God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings" (v3)

"He has chosen us" (v4)

"We were predestinated as His children" (v5)

"We are accepted in the beloved" (v6)

"We have redemption and our sins have been forgive" (v7)

"He has given us an abundance of wisdom" (v8)

"We have obtained an inheritance" (v11)

"We are sealed with the Holy Spirit" (v13)

These are all past tense statements! And we only have covered one half of chapter one! Bible teacher Andrew Wommack recognizes this when he writes, "Most Christians spend their entire lives chasing something they already have. They are always asking the Lord to do something---to bless, to heal, deliver, or prosper them----when in truth, they are seeking what they have already been given. They believe God can do anything, but that He has not (past tense) done very much."

Think of it! God has already done everything needed to secure our success and victory! It is a past tense work! We merely need to begin to change our mindset and perspective. I am not trying to be blessed; I am blessed! I am not trying to be accepted by God; I am accepted by God! I am not trying to be successful; I am successful! With this mindset, I am obtaining by faith what is already mine in Christ. Notice----I am not trying to attain, I am obtaining by faith. There is a difference. To attain is to "gain with effort, to achieve, or to accomplish." To obtain is to "come into possession of, to receive, or to prevail." See the difference?! Attaining is dependent upon my own accomplishment and strength. The problem is that it is impossible for you or me to obtain the blessings of God outside of Christ. Faith is necessary. And faith obtains. We obtain by coming into possession, receiving, and prevailing in the promises of God.

The work has already been done! Now receive what you need from God!

The Biblical Case for Supporting Israel

Today we join with thousands of churches world-wide and recognize Christians United for Israel Sunday. There are various opinions on Israel, with many of those opinions determined by one's political allegence or religious upbringing. But, as believers, our opinions should be shaped by the inerrant statements of the Word of God. Now, more than ever, we must consult the Scriptures concerning Israel and use this foundation as the basis for our prayers, our decisions, and our actions. What does the Scripture say about Israel and how we should relate to this nation and people? Indeed, this would take many books to answer. But let's start with a quick summary.

1. Israel belongs to God's chosen people, the Jews, and Jerusalem is God's chosen city.

Psalms 132:13-14
¹³ For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
¹⁴ This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

2. Israel and the Jewish state is a prophetic fulfillment (Amos 9:11, Duet 28:36-38, Genesis 15:18, Isaiah 43:5-6, Jer 6:15, Ezekiel 36:9, 35:6-7, Ezekiel 37:21-22, 36:11)

Jeremiah 31:5-8
⁵ Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
⁶ For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
⁷ For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

3. Christ is destined to rule Israel, freeing a world in distress

Psalms 24:7-10
⁷ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
⁸ Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
⁹ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
¹⁰ Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

4. God Himself will protect Israel and the Holy City, Jerusalem (Ps 87:3, 48:1, 76:1-2, 48:2, 40:9, Zechariah 1:14, 16-21, 2:12)

Zechariah 3:2
² And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

5. Mankind, and all nations, are commanded to encourage and support Israel (Is 52:7)

Isaiah 62:11-12
¹¹ Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
¹² And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

6. Those who hate Israel and Jerusalem expose themselves to a curse and strict judgment (Zechariah 14:12-13, 16-17).

Psalms 129:5
⁵ Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

7. Those who bless Israel and support the Jews qualify themselves for God's blessing and favor.

Genesis 12:2-3
² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Crisis is An Opportunity to Change

No one likes to go through a crisis----small or big. Comfort, consistency, and security is much more desirable. Nevertheless, we all confront crisis in our life at one time or another. Financial crisis, relational crisis, and even spiritual crisis. Right now, it seems our world is confronted with one crisis after another.

Jesus indicated that this world would face crisis on a corporate and personal level:



---

Matt 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

---

No matter what the crisis is in your life, it doesn't have to be the end for you or push you into a place of discouragement and depression. Here are some thoughts to help you through the crisis:

1. Identify the decisions you made that led to this crisis.

Proverbs 26:2 says, "As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." Nothing happens by chance. There is always a root to the fruit that is in our lives. If we do not like the fruit, we have the opportunity to plant new seed. What would you like to change in your life? What new decisions do you need to make? Start today.

2. Seek council from a trusted mentor or leader in your life.

Proverbs 15:22 says, "Without council, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors, they are established." A wise man will seek council before he is in the midst of a crisis. But don't let this discourage you. It is never too late to seek godly, righteous council. The words of a seasoned mentor or leader can help escort you out of the crisis. On the other hand, failure to seek council can result in further discouragement and despondency.

3. Decide what needs to be done to end the crisis swiftly and completely.

What positive actions can you take right now? Who do you need to call for help? What do you need to do? Identify the actions that will lead to change and don't delay! Delay in the midst of a crisis will only lead to despondency and eventually destruction.

4. Think of the possible consequences and further damage that will take place if you do not confront and settle your crisis.

Pain can be a great catalyst for change. Anger can be used to incite positive adjustments. Frustration can lead to decisions that result in peace. Imagine what will happen if you don't confront your crisis. Remember that you can't conquer something you don't confront. Avoid further problems and become the agent of change in your own life. Esther 4:14: "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

5. Search for and discover the opportunities and possibilities that can come out of this crisis.

You can either be positive or negative. You can either dwell on the crisis or you can look for solutions. Though they are initially hidden, every crisis presents an opportunity for something good to happen out of the situation.

Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Is there a man that went through more horrific crisis than Joseph? He was separated from his family, sold as a slave, falsely accused, thrown in jail, forgotten about, and separated from a father who favored and loved him. But Joseph took advantage of each opportunity that was presented him----even when those opportunities were hidden in garbage and refuse. As a slave, he became a diligent servant to Potipher. As a prisoner, he used his talents to help fellow inmates. And as prime minister of Egypt, he helped a nation survive starvation. Joseph learned how to identify opportunities in the worst of situations.

Decide to be the optimist in your situation that sees the glass half full. Look for the good that can come out of your crisis. Then forge ahead and expect your situation to change for the better!

What is Your Greatest Strength?

Your greatest strength can also leave you vulnerable to your greatest weakness.

Abraham's great strength was faith. God told him to leave everything he had ever known, and he went without hesitation. But that aggressive faith (when used in reverse) often led him to impatience and even deception.

Moses' great strength was his love of people. He loved, cared for, and pastored three million Israelites during some very challenging and difficult times. And yet, Moses got so close to the people that he allowed whatever they said to affect him. This cost him entrance into the Promised Land.

Joseph's great strength was his savvy leadership, multiple talents, and engaging charisma. But these strengths made vulnerable to the enticement of Potipher's lustful wife.

David's great strength was his passion, creativity, and strong emotion. But this also led him to the most well-known act of passion, adultery, and attempted cover-ups in history.

We must be careful not to become boastful of our strengths while still remaining confident and aware of the talents God has given. Even where we are strong, we are still human. Let's submit our strengths to the grace of God.

Who Do You Trust?

In Genesis 24, Abraham tells his servant to go find a wife for his son, Isaac. This was no small task! In Jewish tradition, the father normally chooses a wife for his son. But because of Abraham's old age, he delegates this important task to his "eldest servant." Can such a life altering decision be made by a servant? It can be when we recognize that Abraham had mentored this servant for many years. This is why he is called his "eldest servant." The truth is this:

We can only fully trust those we fully teach.

Abraham felt comfortable sending his servant to find a wife for his son because he knew that his servant had spent many years serving him and catching his spirit. The many years of teaching and establishing a relationship created trust between Abraham and his servant.

Who are you teaching? Who are you developing so that one day you can give them a task that is normally only yours to do?

This is the power of mentoring.